<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->However jesus' unoriginality says nothing about the originality of the Gods that preceeded jesus' invention. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It is same as British intervention in India with Aryan invention not having anything to do with preceding culture. We feel same type of discomfort in both situations. Agreed that Acharya S' feminism impacts her thinking. She even has severe criticisms of Buddhism, acc to her wiki entry. Hutchins falls into same category. We know that Da Vinci Code is anathema to traditional christianity, yet it furthers a secularized christian mindset by reproducing the same "configuration of learning" seen in christianity. I don't think Atwill falls into same category. He is going for the kill in highlighting the original interference in Jewish affairs. I don't think we would react very much differently if we were required to display Cheney's statuary in our temples. Even today we are getting "theories" of Vaishnavism as "Monotheism", etc. But the problematic part is not the "monotheism" part but rather the "theory" part. Focusing on "monotheism" as a cause is just a ruse or, if you prefer, a distraction. That is why there is always our hesistancy in applying "Monotheism" to Tutankhamen, Advaita, Zoroastrianism, and every other <b><i>theorized</i> </b>"Monotheistic" predecessor/"prefiguration". --- (A case in point is AS: it is not the Sun God or Lunar God characterizations which is the problem, but rather her insistence on fitting all data points into the theory ie theology).
The configuration of learning wherein 'the cosmos is a conspiracy theory of the creator' itself has its origins as a real Roman state conspiracy - the philosophical "theorizing" of the Romans had its entry and transformation into "Religion" (ie theology) at this time. Jews were retroactively demonized and that was also the original state intent. This is why Acharya S' quote is so important....(Contrary to deliberately contrived public misconception, Jews were highly involved in "pagan" religions of every stripe.).........
Now, there is one last dimension mirroring AIT: in that the brits were searching for their own past; same can also be said for Romans in their manufacture (per Atwill) of Christianity.
It is same as British intervention in India with Aryan invention not having anything to do with preceding culture. We feel same type of discomfort in both situations. Agreed that Acharya S' feminism impacts her thinking. She even has severe criticisms of Buddhism, acc to her wiki entry. Hutchins falls into same category. We know that Da Vinci Code is anathema to traditional christianity, yet it furthers a secularized christian mindset by reproducing the same "configuration of learning" seen in christianity. I don't think Atwill falls into same category. He is going for the kill in highlighting the original interference in Jewish affairs. I don't think we would react very much differently if we were required to display Cheney's statuary in our temples. Even today we are getting "theories" of Vaishnavism as "Monotheism", etc. But the problematic part is not the "monotheism" part but rather the "theory" part. Focusing on "monotheism" as a cause is just a ruse or, if you prefer, a distraction. That is why there is always our hesistancy in applying "Monotheism" to Tutankhamen, Advaita, Zoroastrianism, and every other <b><i>theorized</i> </b>"Monotheistic" predecessor/"prefiguration". --- (A case in point is AS: it is not the Sun God or Lunar God characterizations which is the problem, but rather her insistence on fitting all data points into the theory ie theology).
The configuration of learning wherein 'the cosmos is a conspiracy theory of the creator' itself has its origins as a real Roman state conspiracy - the philosophical "theorizing" of the Romans had its entry and transformation into "Religion" (ie theology) at this time. Jews were retroactively demonized and that was also the original state intent. This is why Acharya S' quote is so important....(Contrary to deliberately contrived public misconception, Jews were highly involved in "pagan" religions of every stripe.).........
Now, there is one last dimension mirroring AIT: in that the brits were searching for their own past; same can also be said for Romans in their manufacture (per Atwill) of Christianity.