Changes in astronomical nomenclature in the Bible reflect the demythologization process of ancient Near Eastern myths and Israel's unique religious identity.
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Deuteronomy repeatedly teaches not to worship gods. In relation to this passage, researcher Joo Won-joon raised the possibility that the place name 'Sinai' in Deuteronomy might have been changed to 'Mountain of the Wilderness' or 'Mount Horeb'. He hypothesized that the name was changed because Mount Sinai was already perceived as a sacred place, which caused reluctance.
Job 31:26 mentions rejecting the temptation of being captivated by the moon. This suggests that moon god worship was widespread in ancient Israel. Researcher Joo Won-joon interpreted this verse as evidence that moon worship was prevalent in society at that time.
Pope Francis described the Bible as 'not a museum of saints but a place for sinners' lives.' This refutes the conventional notion that the Bible only showcases perfect individuals. Researcher Joo Won-joon explained that the Bible holds value as a document that reveals human weakness and sinfulness as they are, stating that it honestly portrays not only models of faith but also human acts of sin.
David committed immoral acts such as adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. Researcher Joo Won-joon stated that David was politically astute and was quick to humble himself and repent when he recognized his mistakes. The Bible shows God's preference for David, who repeatedly repents, which leads to various interpretations in modern theology. David's story is presented as an example of the Bible unreservedly showing human weaknesses. David reveals his human side to readers by acknowledging his faults and seeking forgiveness. His story is understood not as a simple heroic tale but as encompassing complex and multifaceted human nature. Furthermore, the meaning of David's repentance and forgiveness in his relationship with God is a significant subject of theological discussion.
Researcher Joo Won-joon explained the process of stripping the divinity from the sun, moon, and star gods of the ancient Near East by demoting them to mere creatures as 'demythologization.' The priestly class, after the exile, authored Genesis 1 and designed this theological structure. This was a 'sophisticated' method of defining these beings as created things, rather than a direct prohibition against worshiping specific gods. Genesis 1 refers to the sun and moon as 'the greater light' and 'the lesser light,' denying their divinity and emphasizing that they are creations of God. This approach reflects Israel's strong will to establish monotheistic faith.
Ancient Sumerian and Roman systems named days after celestial gods. However, Genesis 1 created an entirely new system that neutralized the days by numbering them. Researcher Joo Won-joon explained that this method was part of the 'demythologization' project.
Date naming styles worldwide are broadly divided into two types: the Roman style, which names days after celestial gods like Monday and Tuesday, and the biblical style, which uses numbers like day 1, day 2, day 3. Islam, Judaism, Catholic liturgy, and Greece use the biblical naming convention, while countries like China and Vietnam have adopted numerical expressions after the communist government.
Despite being communist regimes, China and Vietnam name their weekdays numerically, in a biblical manner. In contrast, Korea and Japan name their weekdays after celestial gods, a method the Bible discourages. Researcher Joo Won-joon emphasized the need to contrast this with the modern phenomenon of neutralization.
Historically, Israel was a small nation that experienced exile and servitude. Nevertheless, they perceived their God as the greatest in the world. Researcher Joo Won-joon explained that this Israeli faith was very different from the common theological systems of the ancient Near East. Although Israel did not historically establish a great nation or achieve remarkable feats, they formed a unique identity through the idea that 'our God is the greatest in the world and has made a covenant with us.' This belief became the foundation for Israel's ability to maintain a strong monotheistic faith despite their circumstances.
The historical starting point when Israel began to claim that their God was very different from other gods was the Exodus event. Researcher Joo Won-joon analyzed that the experience of Yahweh God defeating the overwhelming power of Pharaoh had an enormously significant impact on the people of Israel. This experience became a powerful driving force that sustained Israeli faith.
A Mesopotamian myth with a very similar narrative to Genesis 1 is the 'Atra-Hasis Epic.' This myth tells the story of gods fighting, then creating humans, and building an ark during a flood. Researcher Joo Won-joon explained that just as the ark story in the Atra-Hasis Epic is almost verbatim in the Epic of Gilgamesh, a comparison between Genesis and these myths allows for a clearer understanding of the uniqueness of the God of Israel.
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