Studies In Theology - 09/20/2006

STUDIES IN THEOLOGY;

Popular Christianity -09/20/2006

Study Notes And Journal Entries,

An Observation

By

David A. Archer

02/15/1968

(r.f.p.p.s.h.)

09/20/2006

Reading farther in the "Bible," I came across a passage in Genesis 23 pertaining to Abraham procuring a place of burial for his family. It describes the proposed burial place as a "cave" - which obviously enough in considering it - the further developed "tomb" in human tradition, is very much - quite simply a more "ornate" cave. ~

The more interesting part of this to myself is in the knowledge that early cheese makers would place a loaf of bread in a cave to grow preferred mold with which to then use in making cheeses - transforming the spores in what ever means happen to be to their liking and success. ~

Though I have never seen it directly referred to, it occurs to me that there may be a deeper social connection in such actions - if even in a happenstance manner. This especially in light of the symbolism's and their perceived importance through out this work, and especially in regard to the symbolism's Christ is said to have used in presenting himself as a form of sustenance. ~

I am not suggesting that people would grow mold in tombs, or even near the dead - but in the same line of symbolic reasoning, that notion definitely holds some possibility. ~

Even further then in that line of thought, is perhaps a psychological association with a symbolic victory in existence through eating "death" so to speak. NOT the "dead," but symbolically conquering death through devouring it, if only in that moment. Transforming through use of something associated with death and the dead (a cave), and further something associated in representative form with existence (the bread) - into a usable sustenance - a celebration of still living. ~

Of course, there is a definite "time line" comparison here as well as perhaps another example in the effect of proximity as per human development and even interaction.

I personally find the "coincidence" very interesting regardless of any actual relation.

It becomes more of a rational possibility the more I consider it - as per what little I know of human tendency and apparent direction in "progress." ~

Some may feel that this might suggest some form of "cannibalism" in tendency - but really it doesn't from what I can see - any more than the idea of Christ having offered unleavened bread as his flesh symbolically and wine for his "blood" - then further it even being a form of punishment early in the bible to consume ones own children for certain transgressions.

Again, I am not suggesting any affiliation that I have seen or heard about as a fact - and further I am not affiliating cheese making with any given "faith" - but the use of caves in many cultures as tombs, is fact - then further, so is the use of caves in some cultures as per said cultivation of mold growth - especially and quite commonly very early on in such developments as cheese making. Some caves were even used as early forms of larders - as per a cellar, for instance.

11/12/2006 - Further as a note, until more recently in human social history, it was quite common to picnic at ones family plot. Rather interesting, if I do say.