Michael Wolraich's picture

    The Heretic's Bible - Genesis 1: God’s first week of work

    At first, there wasn’t much of anything. Well, there was God, and there was some water, so maybe that’s a lot. But there wasn’t anything else, that’s my point. Then God decided to make some other stuff probably because he was bored of the water. So first he made some light so that he could see what he was doing. He thought that was a pretty good accomplishment for the first day and congratulated himself on a job well done.

    The second day, God made a hole in the water and called it the sky.

    The third day, God made some dry land and called it earth. He put trees and plants on it. He thought that was pretty cool too, but the trees and plants probably weren’t very happy that day because there was no sun yet, which makes me wonder where the light was coming from.

    The fourth day, God finally got around to making the sun. Also the moon, and stars. He thought that was good too.

    Commentary: God seems to have a high opinion of his handiwork.

    The fifth day, God made birds and fish and told them to multiply, which they were quite happy to do. The plants and trees probably weren’t so keen about that, but God was pleased.

    The sixth day, God made cows and creeping things and other animals. Then, in what was either a stroke of genius or the biggest mistake of His eternal existence, God made people who kind of looked like Him. He told them to multiply, dominate the animals and creeping things, and eat the plants. He told the animals and creeping things to eat the plants too. At this point, the plants must have been really pissed. But God gave himself a round of applause and took a day off.

    Commentary: The Great Rabbi Ezekiel Bezekial has said,

    "Wondrous is the infinite power of God to have created the world in six days."

    I would never think to question the great rabbi, but as God’s power is without limit, I must ask: What took Him so long? With infinite power, He could have made a thousand worlds in an instant. And then he needs a day off at the end? What, he was tired? I begin to suspect that this God is a lazy cloud-potato.1

    1Cloud-potato: Literally, “flaccid carrot in the sky,” from the Low Aramaic slang for a slave who pretends to be too weak to carry a bucket of goat’s milk or similar burden.


    The Heretic's Bible is a translation of a recently discovered commentary by a notorious first century heretic, Joseph the Latriner. The commentary is presented in italics with footnotes by the translator.

    Previous: Introduction
    Next: Genesis 2 - Adam gets a “helper”

    Comments

    So far, I'm seeing some kvetching but precious little actual heresy, doctor. As for blasphemy, I blaspheme more in a typical session of perusing dagblog than this Joseph character has. For this he got stoned, crucified and burned at the stake? Meh, more likely it was for shoddy latrine construction.


    You have to remember that Joseph was writing in a very conservative time. His blasphemy had to be subtle. Obviously not subtle enough in hindsight.

    PS You're lucky that you weren't blogging in the first century A.D. They would have disemboweled you and banned your avatar for sure.


    I'm looking forward to when he hits the second Genesis story (which is in a different order). I wonder if his "solution" will be more or less creative than the traditional one.


    I'm afraid that you'll be disappointed on that one. With so much heresy to write, Joe evidently felt that he had to pick his battles.


    It sounds like this "God" has that only child syndrome.  Does whatever he wants without rhyme or reason and is really pleased with himself regardless of the effect on those plants. He should have gone to Babygods Play School where he would have more interaction with his peers and learned to be more considerate of others.


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