Replies

And the “modernized” flavor of Kabbala lays claim to even greater antiquity

Wouldn't be surprised if such formulation occurred in part due to exilic stompings into things Farsi. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if there were corrupted traditions that were Hebrew in at least their human origins, earlier on, perhaps tainted oral and scribed traditions going way, way back.

BTW, for yet another subject, have you seen or heard D. James Kennedy's views on an innocent origin of the Zodiac?

Thank you for all the links on Jung! They were all quite long so I just skimmed them, but it is obvious that Jung had a “familiar spirit” which is an abomination to God. Christians are to test the spirits:

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. - I John 4:1-3

I have heard of D. James Kennedy's “take” on the Zodiac, but I haven’t read the book.

I don’t know if the Kabbalists picked up anything from the Persians. It has been said though that Philo was influenced by the great Greek philosophers.

Getting back to Jung and the “collective” – the article I linked that betty boop is reading suggests a mechanism for the evolution of consciousness. It seemed appropriate after reading the review of Sheldrake's work.

However, since I believe that the soul is non-spatial, non-temporal and non-corporeal – consciousness at that level (neshama/ruach) is beyond evolution altogether in my worldview. But as far as the "animal" is concerned (nephesh) perhaps there is a group-think or hive-mind involved.

I could see where a man could be easily deceived by such a force in the nephesh, and reorienting himself (ruach) in that direction, he would lose awareness of his own soul (neshamah, the breath of God.) Hmmmm....