Was this the beginning of the practise of ex-communication and shunning?

by fulltimestudent 1 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • fulltimestudent
    fulltimestudent

    The procedure of expelling non-conforming members of society known as ex-communication (aka, disfellowshipping) and their consequent shunning has long been a practise within Judeo-Christian cultic (in the sense of a worshipping group, i.e. early Christianity) worship.

    Is Genesis 17:14, the first use of this sanction in Judeao-Christianity?

    Its part of the founding myth of Israel so fundamental to both Judaism and Christianity. For reasons not stated in Genesis 12, Abram is instructed to separate himself from his former tribal group with the promise that Yahweh would make into a 'great nation.' Interestingly, Genesis 12:10 brings the first association between the nascent 'Israel' (still in Abram's sperm cells) and Egypt - a connection that was to become a recurrent theme in Israelite mythology. In the ensuing section ( Ch.13 and 14)another mythical connection is made between Sodom and Israel. After the birth of Ishmael, the narrator depicts Yahweh establishing an agreement with Abram, changing Abram's name to Abraham, for his descendents to become many and to be identifiable by their submitting to penile circumcision.

    "Every male of yours must get circumcised" - 17:10

    If they refuse:

    "Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant." - 17:14

    The word used in the Hebrew text (as we have it) iskarath.

    The meaning is essentially , to cut.

    Take your choice whether (in practice) victims were expelled from the community or literally killed.

  • Oubliette
    Oubliette

    So here's your choice: Cut off the end of your cock or we're going to cut you off from the rest of your people, possibly meaning, "We will kill you!"

    What a stupid demand to make of another human being!

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