The Evolution of the Notion of God

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The people of Abrahamic traditions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) are exiles from paradise. The notion of our exile has and continues to influence our theological perspectives, especially our image of God.

The notion, or image, of God has evolved throughout the Abrahamic traditions. In fact, Karen Armstrong authored A History of God which traces the evolution and provided a foundation for the materials below.

The God of Abraham:

Abraham existed in a “pagan” time and place. The “pagan” culture embraced gods and goddesses, but these divine persons were created from and for a particular region. Therefore, these divine beings did not travel to and from different regions.

God (YHWH) appeared to Abraham in a vision commanding Abraham to travel to the “promised” land and notes that YHWH will ensure safe passage. This narrative is evident of the evolution in God, because YHWH can and will transcend the boundaries of a particular region.

The God of Moses:

In the desert one day, God (YHWH) appears to Moses in a flaming bush (flaming because it was not consumed by the fire). YHWH  commands Moses to return to Egypt in order to free the Israelites from slavery.

The narrative of Moses and the Exodus (exit from Egypt) is that of YHWH as a warrior that defends, protects, and frees YHWH’s people. This is seen with the defeats of Egyptians and Philistines, the fall of Jericho, and the conquering of the land of Canaan (Palestine or Israel in modern times).

YHWH is the god of the Israelites, firmly and completely. YHWH traveled with the Israelites (exiles), not confined to a land but bound to the people instead. This narrative further notes a departure from the typical notions of the divine or (“pagan”) gods.

Furthermore, the Ten Commandments state “no Gods above/ahead of me”. The statement is significant, because (1) the claim is not that YHWH is the only divine being and (2) that YHWH sought to be the primary divine being. This notion will evolve in the Abrahamic traditions, but in the narrative of Moses YHWH had not begun to supplement the other divine figures yet.

While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites returned to the worship of Baal. Baal was a “pagan” fertility god who provided for the people, both in reproduction and the harvest of the earth (e.g. food). This angered YHWH, because the Israelites had so quickly forgotten what YHWH had done to provide for their freedom from Egypt. Yet, YHWH begins to provide manna daily from heaven. Later, YHWH will also send storms to end droughts. Thus, YHWH begins to embrace the “roles” of fertility (and other) gods, until YHWH becomes the only God that the Israelites require.

The Prophet: Isaiah

In addition to the Messianic prophesies (those regarding the Messiah), Isaiah prophesied about the fall of Jerusalem to the Assyrians. Isaiah states that the Assyrian invasion will be punishment for their sins, for turning from YHWH, and for treating YHWH as a “pagan” god.

These prophesies of Isaiah are significant in the evolution of YHWH. First, YHWH transitions from the God that protects the Israelites to the sentencing judge who punishes the Israelites. Second, the punishment is executed by humans (the Assyrians), which indicates that YHWH has the ability to control the world, including its people and events. Therefore, the notion (or image) of YHWH in Isaiah is that YHWH controls the world and acts as judge.

The Prophet: Hosea

Hosea is a less known prophet, who begin in the southern kingdom of Judah before moving to the northern kingdom of Israel.

However, Hosea is most known for the imagery of YHWH as a jealous husband whose wife had committed adultery. The concept it that YHWH felt as though the Israelites through their “pagan” rituals had strayed from and committed adultery against YHWH. Yet, YHWH continues to love the Israelites and desires their affection to be directed towards YHWH.

YHWH had attempted to regain the affection of the Israelites through defeating the enemy as a warrior god, through punishment, and through granting all their wishes. However, the Israelites continued to honor the other “pagan” gods.

Hosea marks a profound and significant evolution in the notion, or image, of YHWH. This evolution is the foundation for the reconciliation of the wrathful, warrior God of Moses in the Old Testament with the incarnate God that become flesh and was executed out of love for YHWH’s people in the New Testament.

“On the Side” Discussions:

Polytheism to Monotheism

In these materials and the conversation, we note that throughout the evolution of God there is a transition from traditional polytheistic beliefs into an overarching and all-encompassing supreme divine being. For example, the warrior YHWH embraces the “role” of a fertility god in providing manna to satisfy the needs of the Israelites.

The Feminine Divine to the Masculine Divine

In polytheistic traditions, the gods and goddesses are frequently paired including the highest of the divine hierarchy. Therefore, these traditions frequently embrace the notion of a central goddess.

In Wicca, the supreme divine being is a goddess.

The Abrahamic traditions are historically patriarchal. Yet religious scholars and critics have argued that Christianity might have experienced the loss of the goddess and have attempted to elevate the Virgin Mary as a replacement. Additionally, the argument suggests that it might be rooted in the number of (pagan) gentiles that converted to early Christianity.

Yet, the image of God (YHWH) is extremely limited in human vocabulary. YHWH is neither a male god nor a feminine goddess, but rather transcends gender.

The Name of God

Humanity does not know the name of God, although the nearest humanity has is YHWH.

There is a common notion in religion, which states that “if you know the name, you can control it’: In (Orthodox) Judaism, expecting parents will not utter the name of the child because if Lilith (see below) or a demon knows the name:
1. The mother might miscarry the fetus

2. The infant might have a birth defeat

3. The infant might die shortly after birth

In Christianity, the notion is most prominent in exorcism. If the priest can obtain the name of the demon (evil spirit) that has posse an individual, the priest is able to control the demon and order it to leave the host.

An interesting observation is that the majority of known “demon” names are the names of or similar to those of “pagan” gods and goddess.

Lilith, the First Wife of Adam

According to Jewish commentary, Lilith was the first wife to Adam prior to the creation of Eve. There are several diverse narratives about Lilith, but these are rooted in Lilith as an independent and hard-headed woman.

The Jewish commentaries have embraced the notion that Lilith vowed to curse and haunt Eve and her descendants for eternity. This notion has resulted in:

1. Lilith as the first “ghost”

2. Lilith as Eve’s tempter

3. Lilith as the “mother” of demons and the dark forces

In our modern context, these depictions of Lilith remain:

1. Lilith as the tempter and the “mother” of demons, might explain the devil/evil forces frequently depicted as a woman in iconography, media, etc.

2. As stated above, the fear of naming an unborn child.

3. There are amulets worn by the expecting mother to protect the child from Lilith.

4. There are clay statues for the nursery to protect sleeping infants from Lilith.

The Creation of Humanity

The “pagan” creation narratives and the Abrahamic (Genesis) narrative embrace the notion that humans were created last. Yet, the image of their creation are different and have different implications for the God-human relationship.

A variety of “pagan” narratives have the humans created from a defeated, undesired divine being. The notion is that humanity has an element of the divine.

While in the Genesis account, humanity was created from the earth and not from a divine being. Therefore, one might argue that humans have no divine quality. Yet, this notion is arguable because of the text and its translation. The text states that God breathed God’s breath into Adam and Eve, but “breath” might be translated as “spirit”. Perhaps, whether “breath” or “spirit, humanity has an element of the divine.

So, What?

1. How has the image of God evolved?

2. Is the image of God continuing to evolve?

a. How?

b. Why or Why Not?

3. What are your thoughts about the evolution?

4. What are your thoughts about the other topics discussed?