Source: “Cracking the Symbol Code: The Hidden Messages Within Church and Renaissance Art”, By Tim Wallace-Murphy, Watkins Publishing, London, 2010.
3. The Bible - A Historical Record or a Spiritual Masterpiece.mp4
This source explores the surprising Egyptian origins of Judaism and its profound influence on early Israelite practices and beliefs, challenging the common perception of the Bible as a purely historical record. It highlights how the Jewish faith, alongside Christianity and Islam, shares common roots despite apparent differences, advocating for a dispassionate analysis of their similarities. A key theme is the symbolic nature of biblical texts, proposing four levels of interpretation—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—to uncover deeper spiritual truths beyond historical accuracy. The text further argues that many pivotal biblical figures and concepts, including the patriarch Abraham, Moses, the Ten Commandments, and even the design of Solomon's Temple, bear strong resemblances to Egyptian religious customs and royal traditions, suggesting a deliberate incorporation of these elements during the formation of the Hebrew Bible in Babylonian exile to ensure the survival and distinctiveness of the Jewish people.
opic 1: The Bible's Nature and Historical Reliability The source states that millions of followers of the three great monotheistic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) believe the Bible is an inspirational book and a valid historical record tracing their faith's origins. However, the text posits that these beliefs are historically flawed. It suggests that the Bible, despite its imperfections, possesses profound spiritual impact and should be approached like myth and legend, focusing on its spiritual truth rather than its historical accuracy. It emphasizes that the Bible was written by fallible human beings with complex motives, sometimes describing events centuries or millennia after they occurred.
Topic 2: Egyptian Origins of Judaism A central assertion of the text is that Judaism has true Egyptian origins, a fact that devout followers are largely unaware of. It argues that the similarities between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam far outweigh their differences, as they all spring from the same roots and preach a message of peace, brotherhood, and harmony in different forms of literary symbolism.
Topic 3: Conflicting Views of Jesus and Faith Similarities The source mentions the existence of at least two conflicting accounts of Jesus's life, though it does not elaborate on these conflicts within the provided text. It quickly transitions to highlighting the profound similarities among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, stating that their shared roots and essential message of peace, brotherhood, and harmony are more significant than their apparent practical differences, despite historical conflicts.
Topic 4: Symbolism in Judaism and Biblical Interpretation Contrary to the assumption that Judaism, due to its strict prohibition of 'graven images', lacks symbolism, the source asserts that there was a striking continuity of symbolic usage uniting Egyptian and early Israelite practice, crucial for later Christian iconography. It explains that literary symbolism, through allegory and parables, was the primary means of communicating spiritual insight in the Bible. The text identifies four levels of biblical interpretation: the literal (simple fact or instruction), the allegorical (elements standing for something else), the moral (personal relevance to the reader), and the anagogical or mystical (highest level, transcending normal comprehension, where the symbol dissolves into what it symbolizes).
Topic 5: The Bible's Formation During Babylonian Exile The Bible, as it is known today, began to take shape during the Babylonian exile of the Israelites in the sixth century BCE. Jewish scribes and priests, fearing extinction without a temple or country, turned to God and their existing sacred writings (like the Torah) to create a form of Judaism based on piety and learning, detached from territorial limitations. This period saw the creation of the Old Testament, drawing from "The Law," past legends, the Book of Deuteronomy, oral and mystical traditions, prophetic sayings, and a strong sense of spiritual purpose, projected both retrospectively and to the future.
Topic 6: Egyptian Mystical Heritage in Emerging Scriptures The source suggests that pivotal figures in biblical history, such as Saul, David, Solomon, Elijah, and Joshua, lived and died before the Scriptures existed to guide them. Instead, they were influenced by the mystical and initiatory heritage of Egypt, which was subsequently incorporated into the Scriptures as they took written form in Babylon. It also notes that Jews treasured their earlier mystical and initiatory religious traditions, recording their importance in the new Scriptures, including extolling prophetic insights, revering priest-kings as embodiments of enlightenment, and seeing initiatory concepts of ascending holiness pervading Jewish life.
Topic 7: Abraham's Controversial Egyptian Identity The source challenges the traditional narrative of Abraham's birth in Ur, suggesting it might be camouflage to hide his true Egyptian origins. It presents evidence that Abraham was a highborn Egyptian, citing his incestuous marriage to his sister (a practice restricted to the Egyptian royal family), his original name "Abram" translating to "exalted father" or "father of the House of Ra" (a ritual name for Egyptian kings), and the recorded change of names for both Abram and Sarai. Sarah's new name is the Egyptian term for princess, and her handmaiden, Hagar, was a highborn Egyptian.
Topic 8: Paternity Doubts Regarding Isaac The bizarre liaison between Sarah and an unnamed Pharaoh, recorded in the scriptures, led to scholarly speculation in Judaism and Islam regarding the paternity of Abraham's son, Isaac. The Babylonian Talmud and the Koran are cited as sources that raise doubts, implying that the Pharaoh, not Abraham, might have been Isaac's real father. This poses two significant questions: Abraham's origin (Ur or Egypt) and the true lineage of the people of Israel (Abraham or the Pharaoh).
Topic 9: Shared Deity Terminology The source points out that Abraham and Melchizedek, the priest-king of Jerusalem, both consistently used the phrase "the Most High God" to describe the deity. This is presented as significant because "the Most High God" was one of the commonest terms used in Egyptian records for the supreme god of their pantheon, reinforcing the suggested Egyptian connection.