This article is a summary of information I found that illustrates the origin of the three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Unfortunately, all of these religions leave out these details. This story is assembled from many pieces, but it shows how the origins started. Please research to satisfy yourself to the truth of these statements.
Our story starts with the Phoenicians – also known as the Canaanites. The Phoenicians were a polytheistic society worshipping many gods. The father of their gods was called ‘El’ and the gods collectively were called the ‘Elohim’ which meant children of ‘El’. Their pantheon included El (similar to Kronos), Ba’al Hadad (Similar to Zeus), Yam (a sea god, but similar to Typhon), Anath (Similar to Athena), Ashera (Similar to Hera), etc.
Anyway, Ba’al Hadad was the ruler of the gods, much like Zeus. El, much like Kronos, had some grievances with Ba’al so he told Yam to take over. There was a big battle and Yam took over as ruler of the gods (Elohim). But Yam is a big tyrant, making the other gods toil under his iron fist so they agreed that something must be done. Ashera goes before him to ask that he go easier on the gods. He agrees but only if she offers up her body to him. When she returns to the other gods to tell them their plan, the gods are so enraged that they make war on Yam to dethrone him. Ba’al Hadad leads the fight and wins back the throne of the gods. Yam is completely ejected from the pantheon.
This must have been difficult for the Phoenicians (Canaanites) as they were a sea faring folk. To be without a sea god would have been difficult at best. But it should be noted that in the history of the Phoenician people, they are noted to have stopped worshipping Yam and started worshipping Poseidon. There can be no better reason than this mini war of the gods to go to the extreme measures of adopting a foreign sea god.
At this part of the story, you are probably wondering what this has to do with Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Well first, its good to note that the word ‘Elohim’ is often used in the bible to denote ‘God’ whereas we now know it actually means ‘Children of El’ (El being the Phoenician Kronos). Further to this Yam has several aliases including: Yaw, Yawu, Lord Nahar, Yah, Yahu, Lotan. What is interesting about these is that they have been etymologically linked to YWHW (Yahweh) the god of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. What is also good to note here is that in the Lotan form, he was equivalent to Typhon and etymologically liked to Ladon the greek ‘Serpent on the forbidden tree’.
So Yam has been ejected from the pantheon and is a little bit bitter and jealous. He even says to his followers ‘I am a jealous god – you shall have no other gods before me’. Anyway, Yam takes special interest in a dude named Abram. He makes a deal with Abram and his following of a few thousand that if they agree to follow Yam and only Yam that Abram will be the father of many nations and in fact that they can possess the land of the Phoenicians (Canaanites). After all, what better revenge on the Phoenicians (Canaanites) then to slaughter them all and take their land? Abram agrees and Yam changes his name to Abraham (Abrijam). It is possible, though not proven, that this extra bit on his name is in reference to his adopting of Yam as his personal god – ‘Abrayam’ so to speak. Abraham is noted to be the father of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This continued on as in the bible. No need to bore you here. Yet note a few things. Remember that Yaw has a serpent form. Moses had a sacred staff given to him with a serpent on it. He even tells Moses his real name is ‘YHWH’. Think on the fact that Yam was a sea god originally and that is maybe why there is importance on the parting of the red sea and the flood of Noah in the bible.
They eventually did go back to
“When the lord your god has
delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy
them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. Do not
intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their
daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following me to
serve other gods, and the lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly
destroy you. This is what you are to do to them: Break down their altars, smash
their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols in the
fire….those who hate him he will repay to their face by destruction; he will
not be slow to repay to their face those who hate him”
Nice guy eh? I can almost feel the benevolence there.
Basically once back in
What is funny is that in their holy books, they take stories from other Phoenician gods and attribute them to Yam. The battle of Ba’al Hadad against Lotan (Yam) was even turned into the battle of YHWH and Leviathan. In essence Yam changes places in this story to make it look better. Remember also that Yam is the serpent on the tree. Yam is equivalent to Typhon, Tiamat, and Illuyanka. In their respective cultures these are deemed to be the most evil of gods/creatures.
Yam, who in other guises many cultures deemed to be the most evil, is the one who created monotheism that has ruled us for over 2000 years. He created this out of jealousy and bitterness because he was thrown out due to his lust for power. Consider the war and bloodshed that has occurred in his name over the past several thousand years all in the name of vengeance and power. It is saddening.
I know lots of people following one of his monotheistic paths. These are good people. These are people that want to do good in the world and they do. But this is the true history behind their religion. I guess they are living proof that you can do good while believing in something evil. The question is really ‘Can anything that started in such evil ultimately come to any good?’ Do we have a duty to share what is uncovered about this history? It’s a tough call as the truth is good – but it will also shatter another’s faith.
It should be noted that
this story can be taken in tow ways. First in the mythological sense I have
presented here with the God Yam literally being ejected and then later seeking
revenge with his own followers. Or it could be speculated that this story is a
mythical cover for a tribe of Canaanites that were excommunicated for seeking
too much power (whose patron god was Yam) and they returned later to slaughter
those that kicked them out. I leave it to you to decide which is more
satisfying. Either way though, it illustrates the beginnings of monotheism.
For comparable mythologies
sake:
In Greek Mythology – Typhon
was the last of Gaia’s children, a serpent/dragon/water god, and wanted
vengeance against Zeus and the gods for imprisoning the Titons. He attacked
Zeus and beat him, tearing out his sinews and leaving him in a burlap bag. Zeus
was rescued and fought Typhon, defeating him.
In Babylonian Mythology –
Tiamat was a serpent/dragon/water goddess who waged war against the gods.
Marduk (A storm god like Zeus) rose up and with the help of the other gods
defeated Tiamat and cast her out.
In Hittite Mythology -
Illuyanka was a serpent/dragon/water god who waged war against the gods. Teshub
(a storm god like Zeus), who was originally defeated by Illuyanka and blinded,
had his sight restored and went on to defeat the dragon and throw it out.
In Phoenician Mythology – Yam was a serpent/dragon/water god who rose up on command of El and defeated Ba’al Hadad (a storm god like Zeus). After Ashera’s bargain, Ba’al is enraged and with the help of the other gods, defeats Yam and casts him out.
http://nazoraean.com/godofmoses.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenicia#Overlap_between_the_two
http://www.biblenotes.net/genesis.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nehushtan
Written by RavenDreamer