Have you ever wondered why prophets are down in numbers? Why we see so few Nathans, Mohammeds, Ezekiels etc? Where have all the sybils and such like gone to in 2021? The Bronze Age seemed to be a far more opportune time for oracles with the word of god on their lips. Of course, if you go around uttering warnings of imminent damnation today you are more than likely to get locked up. Yes, we consider such ravings to be a sign of mental illness within our modern societies. Science has put the kibosh on the whole concept of direct transfers of information from supernatural entities into our heads. Could these occurrences have actually been the beginnings of consciousness in human beings? Were they, perhaps, home grown ideas emerging from our own brains?
Where Does Wisdom Come From?
Where does wisdom come from? Where do strongly held convictions emanate from? It is a tried and true methodology to subscribe these things to higher powers of divinity. This reduces their questionability and raises their credibility in the eyes of many. Ancient history has taught us that power seeking human beings most often align themselves with invisible omnipotent entities. Putting suitable words into the mouths of gods and goddesses has served the ruling elite very well over millennia. Ok, this is the fraud or the con, but I am sure there have also been plenty of prophets who have genuinely believed they are hearing/thinking the thoughts of a higher power.
Prophet-Speak Concerns Cultural Customs & Belief
Most religious lore is cultural custom, it reflects the practices and beliefs of a group of people. Gendered behaviour determines a great deal of this within a wide variety of cults and religions around the world. The idea of god sanctifies much of this proscribed behaviour within communities. The greater part of prophet-speak concerns cultural customs and sanctifies already deeply held beliefs. There are other examples of powerful people influencing how things are done via the word of god. Joseph Smith Junior of the Latter-Day Saints provides a perfect example of this. His revelation commanding him to embark upon multiple wives/sexual partners came at a convenient time. The seven-year itch was scratched well and truly with the aid of his god. Select men should have multiple wives and sexual partners but not the other way around, according to the Mormon god during the 19C/20C.
Monotheism Masks the Importance of Women
Men have invariably placed themselves at the top of both secular and religious trees. God in his monotheistic form is surprisingly masculine in word and deed according to the vast majority of prophets. Monotheism does not reflect well upon the fifty percent of human life that is female. There is a paucity of female prophets recorded and listened to in history. The beginnings of consciousness and those voices within our minds were likely given identities outside of ourselves. We know that human beings seek authority in the guise of divine powers. “Listen to me, because I speak with the voice of god!” “Men are more important than women because they are closer to god in looks, thought, and deed.”
Indeed, look at the words we use ‘fe-male’ and ‘wo-man’. These mothers, sisters, and daughters do not have gender naming words in our languages apart from the prefixes ascribed to ‘man’ or ‘male’. Eve was constructed by god from Adam’s rib as an accessory to Adam, according to the Christian religion. Religions have been written by male prophets and scribes the world over. Languages have been constructed and canonised by males. The continuing honour bestowed upon these institutions furthers gender inequality. Religions are an anachronism, and their unfettered existence promotes outdated and unjust behaviours. These religions lurk in the shadows of customs and rituals still practised by executive arms of our states and governments.
Human beings, Homo sapiens, these men have hidden their ideas under the cover of divinity. God has confirmed that the world is ordered in such a way. Men are at the top of the tree with their ears closer to the word of god. Women are much further down the pecking order primarily concerned with popping out more little men. The beginnings of consciousness murmured what these individuals wanted to hear. Commanding the hierarchical structure for all to follow.
Genesis 3-16 “thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”
Genesis 16-2 “Sarai said unto Abram…I pray thee, go in unto my maid: it may be that I may obtain children by her.”
Slavery was widely practised in both Christian and Islamic cultures. Women were, according to the Old Testament, the property of their fathers and husbands. In many cultures, this remains true today in the 21C. People, around the globe, are still reading and listening to sermons written thousands of years ago. Prophets, some who believed they were voicing the concerns of god, laid down religious laws still being adhered to today. The voices inside your head are your own. This, in my opinion, is true now and has been so down through the ages. Taking ownership and full responsibility for all our thoughts and actions is something that humanity has battled with for a long time. We like to palm things off to gods and isms. Men have murdered and raped their way through vast swathes of history. The demise of slavery is a very recent occurrence in historical terms and there are still pockets of sex slavery operating in every country worldwide. Men drive the sex trade. The word of god via prophets said very little about this profitable practice. Prophets conveniently talk about the interests of powerful men and not against them.
If you are listening to words ascribed to religious prophets, it may be time to question their veracity. In all likelihood these are the words of men and not the word of god. Why would god only speak through men? Why would god favour one gender over another? It sounds a lot like men with vested interests depicting themselves as somehow above the game. Be wary of men who dress up in religious garb. Why do they need to hide their humanity? Be wary of all those who claim to speak with the voice of god. The beginnings of consciousness has probably played a trick on the unsuspecting by outsourcing the provenance of its ideas. Time to take ownership of our thoughts and actions in their entirety.
©Robert Hamilton