The best way to talk about Lilith is to quote an essay from Stephanie Erricson. Here, she provides a little insight into who she was:
"Omission
The cruelest lies are often told in silence. —R.L.Stevenson
Omission involves telling most of the truth minus one or two key facts whose absence changes the story completely. You break a pair of glasses that are guaranteed under normal use and get a new pair, without mentioning that the first pair broke during a rowdy game of basketball. Who hasn't tried something like that? But what about omission of information that could make a difference in how a person lives his or her life? For instance, one day I found out that rabbinical legends tell ofanother is woman in the Garden of Eden before Eve. I was stunned. The omission of the Sumerian goddess Lilith from Genesis—as well as her demonization by ancient misogynists as an embodiment of female evil—felt like spiritual robbery. I felt like I'd just found out my mother was really mystepmother. To take seriously the tradition that Adam was created out of the same mud as his equal counterpart, Lilith, redefines all of Judeo-Christian history. Some renegade Catholic feminists introduced me to a view of Lilith that had been suppressed during the many centuries when this strong goddess was seen only as a spirit of evil. Lilith was a proud goddess who defied Adam's need to control her, attempted negotiations, and when this failed, said adios and left the Garden of Eden. This omission of Lilith from the Bible was a patriarchal strategy to keep women weak. Omitting the strong-woman archetype of Lilith fromWestern religions and starting the story with Eve the Rib has helped keep Christian and Jewish women believing they were the lesser sex for thousands of years."
Is is true? Did Adam have a first wife who was omitted from the Bible during the Canonization process? I am sure that there are people out there who already know this. If you don't, search for yourself. Here is a start;
Part of the importance in understanding the canonization of the Bible is to begin to look at what was purposely omitted from the text when the books were brought together.
ReplyDeleteLilith was put in the Bible, but she was alluded too, and never referred to directly by name. Why would they keep her out?
Silly me. I thought she was Fraiser's bitchy ex-wife?
ReplyDeleteAnd, that was her too.
ReplyDeleteSeriously Feeno, she is interesting. She has even been called the first vampire.
I too like you have my personal experiences and observations except I choose to believe in God. I am a female, and I do not agree with the stance women are taking when they claim that this story was left out of the bible to make women appear weak. This story is Mesopotamian folklore and Judaism based. This is the opinion that seems to be taking over those that do not choose to believe in God or is using this as a crutch to claim there isn't one. Women were made as a help mate for men because men are not capable of the things that women are. Women are so much stronger in several abilities, and until you realize there is a purpose in being a female you will be forevermore a "victim". You see, you were stunned because you think it was left out of Genesis, but I am stunned that people choose to believe this story over biblical text. Some choose to add to it and some choose to take away and this is a huge mistake. The story of Adam and Eve is simply a lesson for us to learn from. We are to support, & respect our husbands as long as they are living a Godly life and this is where Eve committed the first ever sin when she chose to go against his instruction. Plain and simple. Thank you for welcoming me to give my opinion on your subject.
ReplyDelete1 Timothy 4:1 In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.