Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 3 of 4 1 2 3 4
#86538 11/21/02 07:40 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
God instructed Moses to make a snake out of bronze

Wait a minute! Was this before or after He told Moses not to make any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth?


#86539 11/21/02 08:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Moses got the Ten Commandments in Exodus. The events of Numbers come later.
Let us not blaspheme by accusing the Lord of being inconsistent.



#86540 11/21/02 09:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 328
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 328
Wait a minute! Was this before or after He told Moses not to make any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth?

After. To quote the First Commandment: "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them..."
(My emphasis)

I think the point lies not in whether or not you make a representational sort of object, but in whether or not you worship said object. The Israelites clearly broke the commandment when, long after Moses made the snake, they began to reverence it as an idol/deity.

That said, the commandment does seem to imply that representational art is forbidden. I guess Moses was allowed to make the snake because he got special permission from God. But I'm certainly no theologian.


#86541 11/22/02 12:50 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
A
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
A
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
Clearly the works of Mondrian were destined to remain kosher.

On a side note, what is the name of the symbol that depicts a snake eating its own tail?


#86542 11/22/02 12:56 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
snake eating
its own tail, is called the Ouroboros


#86543 11/22/02 03:40 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
In reply to:

I once saw a pair of snakes copulating in deep grass, and grabbed what I thought was just
behind the head of one


So, Dr. Bill Theiresias, who gets the most pleasure out of sex, men or women?

Bingley



Bingley
#86544 11/22/02 02:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
One night when I was switchboard operator after midnight, a saucy student nurse told
me the answer to that. She said:"Suppose your ear itches, and you gently insert your
little finger and rotate it, it feels good, doesn't it? But which feels the better, your
finger or your ear?"


#86545 11/22/02 02:38 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
wwh:

Only you.

Honestly, I shouldn't encourage you at all, but sometimes your humor is to blessedly consistent that I laugh out loud in spite of myself!

How we've gone from the cadeuceus to Mercury to snakes to fingers in ears!

Ha! Best laugh all morning. Don't think I'll have one better.


#86546 11/28/02 02:43 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 77
M
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
M
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 77
Well, I haven't read the whole way through this thread, but I'm surprised that, as far as I got, there has been no mention of the possible relation of the caduceus with Hinduism, chakras and kundalini energy. The serpent rising up the staff is symbolic of chi rising upwards through the chakras. And just so we don't get to ethnocentric, the snake is a female symbol in many cultures, in this case one of robust wellness....

oh, and Happy Thanksgiving....


#86547 11/28/02 03:02 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear magi;maria:I am completely ignorant of Hindu symbolism. Interesting that snakes have
been such important symbols in many cultures. They hide from us, and we attribute magic
to them.


Page 3 of 4 1 2 3 4

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 444 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5