Author’s Note: The received Bible is full of high comedic value (almost Shakespearean in nature) – despite the rather serious nature of most of its content (pogroms, persecutions, famine, drought, exploitation, theft, torture, ethnic cleansing, genocide, infanticide, executions, sacrifices, child abuse, child marriages, war, rape, invasions and disinformation, etc). For those interested in the objective (rational) investgation of “religion” – I would recommend the work of Robert Price, Richard Carrier, Freke & Gandy and Bert Ehrman, etc, with the caveat that you always think for yourself and respect the sincerely held beliefs of others (providing they are sane).
Furthermore, the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels is usually ignored on the (objective) academic religious circuit (as a corrective please see “Marx On Religion” Temple University [2002] by John Raines). Marx, of course, built his theory of “inverted consciousness” (as an explanation for the development and perpetuation of theistic religion) – after studying the work of Ludwig Feuerbach – as both of these thinkers were responding to the monumental (and historically significant) work of Hegel. What I want to share is a short extract from the first chapter of the Bible – Genesis 12: 10-20 entitled “Abram in Egypt”! ACW (31.3.2024)
‘There was a famine in the country, and Abram went down to Egypt to stay there for a time, because the famine in the country was severe. When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, please, I know you are a beautiful woman. When the Egyptians see you they will say, ‘That is his wife,’ and they will kill me but let you live. Please tell them you are my sister, so that it may go well with me because of you and they will spare my life out of regard for you.” When Abram arrived in Egypt the Egyptians did indeed see that the woman was very beautiful. When Pharaoh’s officials saw her they sang her praises to Pharaoh and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s household. And Abram was very well treated because of her and received flocks, oxen, donkeys, men and woman slaves, she-donkeys and camels. But the Lord inflicted severe plagues on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now, here is your wife. Take her and go!” And Pharaoh gave his people orders about him; they sent him on his way with his wife and all his possessions.’
Holy Bible, Revised New Jerusalem Bible – Study Edition – Darton, Longman, and Todd, (2019), Page 22
On the face of it, this is an extraordinarily mercenary attitude for Abram to adopt – to say nothing of its racist (anti-Egyptian) and misogynistic (anti-Sarai) implications. Abram cares only about his own well-being and self-aggrandisement – and he will do anything to materially enrich his situation – even prostituting his wife to be used by the Pharaoh for profit! The Jewish authors seem to be siding with Abram and accusing the Pharaoh of acting inappropriately. An interesting question is “why” is this Jewish criminality (which occurs in other parts of the Bible) treated with such a casual and inattentive manner? Following the law and customs of other countries is a duty to all people and a mark of human civilisation – just as non-Jews are expected to show respect for Jewish traditions, attitudes and conventions.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 