What is Reddit's opinion of The Language of Creation: Cosmic Symbolism in Genesis?

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Much of that only makes any sense at all if you understand ancient cosmology and symbolism. Which hardly anybody in modern times does, without a deliberate effort to go and learn about it.

I would highly, highly recommend this book for a start if you want to flip your perceptions upside down (right side up):

The Language of Creation: Cosmic Symbolism in Genesis

The best explanation of this is in a book called the language of creation by Mathieu pageau.

The Language of Creation: Cosmic Symbolism in Genesis https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D738HD8/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_P5FAKP21NCB20248W2H0

Here's a sample of the book

"The Creator of Space and Time: Positive and Negative Who forms light and creates darkness?

Who makes peace and creates evil? I am the Lord who makes them all.

As discussed in chapters 22 and 23, the name of God (I Am what I Am) revealed on Mount Horeb is the seed-like principle of all Mosaic laws. More importantly, that tautology is the metaphysical principle of ‘space’ on the cosmic level. Applying this formula to the cosmic scale implies “I am in heaven what I am on earth,” which means outward fact (earth) perfectly expresses inward meaning (heaven). This is precisely the definition of ‘space’ in biblical cosmology. It is also the quality of all things straight, true, and correct. Conversely, the negation of God’s identity produces the following contradiction: “I am not what I am,” which is also the principle of ‘time’ and flooded land on the cosmic scale. This negative name means that outward fact (earth) and inward meaning (heaven) "

I really love your analysis and I understand where you are coming from. That being said, I wish I had the time and the knowhow to explain how symbolic patterns are universal. The only other suggestion I have is to check out Matthieu Pageau's book The Language of Creation. If you don't feel up to purchasing it or reading the whole thing, the breif sample Amazon provides is a great way to understand universal Symbolism, as it gives a more detailed expression of how the cosmos works.

I suppose it can. Not everyone really gets into breaking down all the elements, but I find it particularly interesting. If you're interested in exploring Christian symbolism, I really like Jonathan Pageau. If you're more of a left-brain type, his brother Matthieu wrote a fine book called The Language of Creation.

there are certantly deeply symbolic threads to the Bible especially Genesis. reading it symbolically as a true story opens up new dimensions. just remember that symbolic doesn't mean it's not true. Jordan Peterson has a free YouTube Bible series where he gives his take on the archetypal dimensions of Genesis and exodus.

if you want something more traditional then I would encourage you to read the Ignatius study Bible by Scott Hahn. excellent notes.

but if you want a deeply symbolic deep dive into the macro symbols of the old testament then you could read the language of creation by Matthew pageou https://www.amazon.com/Language-Creation-Cosmic-Symbolism-Genesis-ebook/dp/B07D738HD8

very dense stuff. here is a video series that outlines all.of the chapters. highly recommend the video series. it connects symbolic interpretations with pop culture. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL390xzhnMZ7X7PWW-dhK51bwrvWujCOxl

The Ophite Gnostics believed the Leviathan was the ouroboros, and many other traditions describe an eschatological serpent-slaying.

The best book I've come across for understanding the symbolism of biblical cosmology is The Language of Creation by Matthieu Pageau. He unpacks how our ancestors viewed 'time and space', including the role of the serpent as a symbol of time, change, and chaos.

The alchemy descriptions are taken from C.G. Jung's reading of Michael Maier (Collected Works Vol 14):

>Maier's journey through the planetary houses begins with Saturn, who is the coldest, heaviest, and most distant of the planets, the maleficus and abode of evil, the mysterious and sinister Senex (Old Man), and from there he ascends to the region of the sun, to look for the Boy Mercurius, the longed-for and long-sought goal of the adept.It is an ascent ever nearer to the sun, from darkness and cold to light and warmth, from old age to youth, from death to rebirth. But he has to go back along the way he came, for Mercurius is not to be found in the region of the sun but at the point from which he originally started.

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>He can find Mercurius only through the rite of the ascent and descent, the "circular distillation," beginning with the black lead, with the darkness, coldness, and malignity of the malefic Saturn; then ascending through the other planets to the fiery Sol, where the gold is heated in the hottest fire and cleansed of all impurities; and finally returning to Saturn, where this time he meets Mercurius and receives some useful teachings from him.

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>Saturn has here changed from a star of ill omen into a "domus barbae" (House of the Beard), where the "wisest of all," Thrice-Greatest Hermes, imparts wisdom. Hermas too begins with the blackness; his mistress gives him the following explanation:

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>The black is this world in which you are living; the colour of fire and blood means that this world must be destroyed in blood and fire. The golden part is you, who have fled from this world, for even as gold is tried in the fire and becomes valuable, so also you who live among them are tried. . . . The white part is the world to come, in which the elect of God shall dwell; for those who have been chosen by God for eternal life will be without spot and pure.

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>In alchemy the fire purifies, but it also melts the opposites into a unity. He who ascends unites the powers of Above and Below and shows his full power when he returns again to earth.

For what it's worth, Jonathan Pageau's brother Matthieu wrote a book titled <em>The Language of Creation: Cosmic Symbolism in Genesis</em>. I bought a copy but have yet to read it. Fr Lawrence Farley also wrote a book titled <em>In the Beginning (Expanded Edition): A Fresh Look at the Early Chapters of Genesis</em>, although, a word of caution: it was originally published through Ancient Faith but was pulled from print. I think that he took some controversial positions so I can't vouch for it but if it is of interest, perhaps read it and take it with a grain of salt.

For me, there are different ways to look at truth. We assume we know how the historical record should line up. But consider that scripture is not a science textbook. It's a lens through which to see the world, a map of action, not necessarily of territory, if you will. That being said, it's critical that any Christian believe in the historicity and flesh and bones reality of Jesus Christ's atonement and resurrection.

Let me ask a seemingly sideways question. Is the nuclear bomb true? It may sound like a ridiculous question. But if it brings extinction to God's children, maybe we can understand that launching global atomic warfare is not in the set of "true" actions. In that sense, the nuclear bomb is not true because it hypothetically puts a dead end to God's plan.

When I looked at the Gospel from the modern materialist lens, a lot of things didn't make sense. But after adjusting my perspective to view scripture and prophets as maps and guides to action, things make a lot more sense. I know that Joseph was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's restored Church.

You might be familiar with a YouTuber named Jonathan Pageau. He's Eastern Orthodox, and a brilliant analyst of symbolism in culture and Christianity. (You may be interested in Orthodox Christianity...) His brother, Matthieu wrote a book called "The Language of Creation" about looking at the world and the Bible from a symbolic lens, not a materialist lens. It was a spiritual awakening for me. It helped me live my faith more fully. Give it a read and let me know what you think.

Your main confusion is about how I use symbolism in the Biblical context. I will try to elaborate.

Think of the concept of a triangle. Add no material or image to it. Just let it be a concept in your consciousness. Now, let us manifest it in reality in two examples. To do this, lets take three wooden sticks and place them in the shape of a triangle. After that, second example, let us take three ropes and place them in the shape of a traingle again.

Now he wooden sticks and the ropes are not the same material. But, if we examine them, we find that they both point towards the concept of a triangle.

In the same way, exiles and dreams are like those wooden sticks and those ropes. They are not the same thing literally, yet they point towards the same concept.

This book makes it more clear if you want: https://www.amazon.com/Language-Creation-Cosmic-Symbolism-Genesis-ebook/dp/B07D738HD8

You need to have a biblical perspective on how the world works. Read this:

https://www.amazon.com/Language-Creation-Cosmic-Symbolism-Genesis-ebook/dp/B07D738HD8