The Origins of the Ancient Israelite Religion, Canaanite Religions, Mythology

In this presentation Dr. Aren Maeir guides us into the very origins of Ancient Israel, their identity and the very foundations of their religion. In this presentation the great scholar Dr. Maeir takes us into the origins of the religion of the ancient Israelites. He will address these points: Canaanite pagan influences on the Israelite religion such as El and Baal. Discusses the ideological framework of the Israelite texts and the worship of a singular deity, and points out the big question which is is this the original form and practice of the Israelite religion or did this monotheistic approach come much later He discusses male and female figurines of the Iron Age that depict their God. He also discusses the evidence of more than one God and even a Goddess in Israelite society and religion and also he points out that we tend to see not necessarily monotheism in ancient Israel but rather monolatrism. We also ask a harder question and that is, when