Book · 1996 · Religion
The Hebrew Bible
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You see this in Hebrew Bible, but you see it in many other sources.
Yoram Hazony · Interesting Times · Nov 2025 Listen at 15:33 The best things said about it
So, one idea and this this is Robert Wright's claim. I think other people have argued this that we start off polytheistic polytheism is sort of the default. Society start off polytheistic. Even in the Hebrew Bible, it might begin rather polytheistic when when God talks about not worshipping other gods uh instead of him, he's literally talking about other.
Why people recommend it
The Hebrew Bible by Dan Cohn-Sherbok is an ancient foundational collection of religious texts detailing the history, law, and prophetic traditions of the Jewish people. The book received significant discussion on several podcast episodes. On Interesting Times, Yoram Hazony brought up the Hebrew Bible to analyze traditional political orders and family structures, pointing out how ancient empires are viewed primarily as evil in contrast to localized rule. Hazony also discussed the narrative of a divinely ordained nation's enduring relationship with God within its pages. Meanwhile, on Conversations with Tyler, Paul Bloom referenced the Hebrew Bible while discussing Robert Wright's claims regarding the evolution of religion. Bloom noted that societies typically begin with a polytheistic framework as the default state, pointing out that even within the Hebrew Bible, early passages reflect a polytheistic context when God cautions against the worship of alternative deities. Through these scholarly discussions, the Hebrew Bible is examined not only as a sacred religious document but also as a vital historical record reflecting ancient human social organization, ideological development, and the shifting concepts of divine authority and empire.
Every mention
Yoram Hazony You see this in Hebrew Bible, but you see it in many other sources. 3
“You see this in Hebrew Bible, but you see it in many other sources.”
“empire in the Hebrew Bible is seen largely an evil. I could temper that, but largely it’s seen as an evil.”
“And then the story of the Hebrew Bible is the story of that. Divinely ordained nation’s relationship to God.”
Paul Bloom So, one idea and this this is Robert Wright's claim. I think other people have argued this that we start of… 1
“So, one idea and this this is Robert Wright's claim. I think other people have argued this that we start off polytheistic polytheism is sort of the default. Society start off polytheistic. Even in the Hebrew Bible, it might begin rather polytheistic when when God talks about not worshipping other gods uh instead of him, he's literally talking about other”
