I audited a free Hillsdale college course on line last year and took notes on it. I did not write down the name of the very smart professor that narrated the lecture, but some of his ideas are fascinating.
He contrasted Yahweh of the Old Testament against the pagan gods of Babylonia. The professor depicted Yahweh as a Lawgiver, offering the Jews a Covenant, a contract between God and humans, binding upon both parties, and both parties must live up to their end up the bargain, which of course God did, and the Hebrews often did not, as do all of us, by extension.
The pagan gods offered their people no such contract, so this legal, formal, solemn contract was a step forward in human progress.
The professor also described God as willing to serve his people while the pagan God's of Babylonia demanded and received conscripted service from their worshipers. Fascinating.
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