368. Ancient Egypt: The Origin of Abrahamic Religions? (Ep 7)
Summary
Host Jessica and guest Francesca Stavrakopoulou examine Sigmund Freud’s controversial theory linking Akhenaten to monotheism. They argue that early Israelite religion was polytheistic, with Yahweh originally having a consort, Asherah, and sharing traits with Canaanite gods like Baal. The episode details how Yahweh evolved into a solitary deity during the Babylonian exile, influenced by Zoroastrianism and regional cultural motifs rather than direct Egyptian borrowing.
Topics discussed
Intro, sponsors, and episode overview
Freud's Moses and Monotheism and historical context
Origins of Yahweh and early Iron Age references
Yahweh, Asherah, and the ancient Levantine pantheon
Baal, El, and the nature of ancient deities
Sponsors: Wise, Peyronie's disease, and Zepbound
The shift to monotheism after the Babylonian exile
Zoroastrianism and Persian influence on Judaism
Parallels between Akhenaten's hymns and Psalm 104
Ketef Hinnom scrolls, Freud's legacy, and outro
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