Dr. Heiser, have you read SDA scholar Roy Gane’s treatment of the Day of Purgation rituals? “Cult and Character.” He has some additional stuff there that would build on your case I think…
MSH
on December 11, 2015 at 10:55 am
I’ve nto read it, though I have heard Roy at ETS meetings. I think you’re right (or so is my impression).
Travis
on December 3, 2015 at 7:23 am
I can’t tell you how many times growing up I heard that the day of atonement was a beautiful picture of how one goat, like christ, is sacrificed for sin so that the other, like us, can go free. In high school, when I actually read the passage, it looked like there were lots of sacrifices, the goat that bore the sins was actually the “scapegoat,” and it didn’t really go free, it was sent off to die in the desert. Thanks for helping make sense of that! I honestly think that being confronted in college with the fact that the bible doesn’t necessarily say what churches say, and does say things they don’t teach about, was the biggest challenge to faith, not the hysterical athiest shrieking about rationalism.
MSH
on December 11, 2015 at 11:01 am
Well said — and I think your comments ring true for many others.
Dr. Heiser, have you read SDA scholar Roy Gane’s treatment of the Day of Purgation rituals? “Cult and Character.” He has some additional stuff there that would build on your case I think…
I’ve nto read it, though I have heard Roy at ETS meetings. I think you’re right (or so is my impression).
I can’t tell you how many times growing up I heard that the day of atonement was a beautiful picture of how one goat, like christ, is sacrificed for sin so that the other, like us, can go free. In high school, when I actually read the passage, it looked like there were lots of sacrifices, the goat that bore the sins was actually the “scapegoat,” and it didn’t really go free, it was sent off to die in the desert. Thanks for helping make sense of that! I honestly think that being confronted in college with the fact that the bible doesn’t necessarily say what churches say, and does say things they don’t teach about, was the biggest challenge to faith, not the hysterical athiest shrieking about rationalism.
Well said — and I think your comments ring true for many others.