I am glad if you are ahead of me as I love to be instructed, and I have a special affection for social anthropology. The theme of the family spat story has a larger application, if you care to interpret it in the light of modern knowledge about evolving or revolutionary technologies. Did you see that TV (streaming now) programme about the evolution of art as images and attitudes towards nature? Cain and Abel story describes one of the inherent and ongoing problems of settled agriculture.Sculptor wrote: ↑Tue Oct 19, 2021 11:54 amI am, as so often way ahead of you on this matter. I studied anthropology as part of my ancient history and archaeology degree. My masters also included much literary criticism too.Belinda wrote: ↑Tue Oct 19, 2021 10:33 amI am glad you mentioned Cain and Abel, because that story is on the theme of how permanent settlement on and ownership of land is a direct cause of tribal conflicts and international wars of aggression. If you have never been taught how to abstract themes from meaningful stories you may not understand what I am talking about.Sculptor wrote: ↑Tue Oct 19, 2021 10:22 am
Genesis is bad poetry.
Good poetry contains a germ of truth.
If you think Genesis is life affirming I suggest you read it again.
The King James version might make you think it is poetry but that is just the effect of archaic language which tends to lend a certian something. The content should make any rational person whince with horror.
Life affirming.
And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
The bible is all about tribal conflict but favours only one megalomaniac god and his special people. I doubt the makr of Cain has much to do with that since it is clearly a family spat.
But nice to try to avoid the issue.
Where the fuck is all that life affirmation you are talking about?
I prefer to read any literature eclectically. For instance one of my fav authors is a high Tory but her books contain a lot of interesting stuff about personalities, and also historical events from a high Tory point of view.