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95:1.1 By [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_BC 2000 B.C.] the [[religions]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia] had just about lost the teachings of the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_76_-_The_Second_Garden#76:3._LIFE_IN_MESOPOTAMIA Sethites] and were largely under the [[influence]] of the [[primitive]] [[beliefs]] of two groups of [[invaders]], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouin Semites] who had filtered in from the western [[desert]] and the [[barbarian]] horsemen who had come down from the north.

95:1.1 By [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_BC 2000 B.C.] the [[religions]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia] had just about lost the teachings of the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_76_-_The_Second_Garden#76:3._LIFE_IN_MESOPOTAMIA Sethites] and were largely under the [[influence]] of the [[primitive]] [[beliefs]] of two groups of [[invaders]], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouin Semites] who had filtered in from the western [[desert]] and the [[barbarian]] horsemen who had come down from the north.

95:1.2 But the [[custom]] of the early [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_78#78:2._THE_ADAMITES_IN_THE_SECOND_GARDEN Adamite peoples] in honoring the [[seventh]] day of the week never completely disappeared in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia]. Only, during the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_93 Melchizedek era], the seventh day was regarded as the worst of bad [[luck]]. It was [[taboo]]-ridden; it was unlawful to go on a [[journey]], cook [[food]], or make a [[fire]] on the [[evil]] seventh day. The [[Jews]] carried back to [[Palestine]] many of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamian] [[taboos]] which they had found resting on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonia Babylonian] observance of the seventh day, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabatu Shabattum].

95:1.2 But the [[custom]] of the early [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_78#78:2._THE_ADAMITES_IN_THE_SECOND_GARDEN Adamite peoples] in honoring the [[seventh]] day of the week never completely disappeared in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia]. Only, during the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_93 Melchizedek era], the seventh day was regarded as the worst of bad [[luck]]. It was [[taboo]]-ridden; it was unlawful to go on a [[journey]], cook [[food]], or make a [[fire]] on the [[evil]] seventh day. The [[Jews]] carried back to [[Palestine]] many of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamian] [[taboos]] which they had found resting on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonia Babylonian] observance of the seventh day, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabatu Shabattum].

95:1.3 Although the [[Salem]] [[teachers]] did much to refine and uplift the [[religions]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia], they did not succeed in bringing the various peoples to the permanent [[recognition]] of [[Monotheism|one God]]. Such teaching gained the ascendency for more than one hundred and fifty years and then [[gradually]] gave way to the older [[belief]] in a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henotheism multiplicity of deities].

95:1.3 Although the [[Salem]] [[teachers]] did much to refine and uplift the [[religions]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia], they did not succeed in bringing the various peoples to the permanent [[recognition]] of [[Monotheism|one God]]. Such teaching gained the ascendency for more than one hundred and fifty years and then [[gradually]] gave way to the older [[belief]] in a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henotheism multiplicity of deities].

95:1.4 The [[Salem]] teachers greatly reduced the [[number]] of the gods of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia], at one time bringing the chief [[deities]] down to [[seven]]: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel_%28god%29 Bel], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamash Shamash], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabu Nabu], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anu Anu], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enki Ea], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marduk Marduk], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin_(mythology) Sin]. At the height of the new teaching they exalted [[three]] of these gods to [[Dominate|supremacy]] over all others, the Babylonian triad: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel_%28god%29 Bel], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enka Ea], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anu Anu], the gods of [[earth]], [[sea]], and [[sky]]. Still other triads grew up in [[different]] localities, all reminiscent of the [[trinity]] teachings of the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_78#78:4._THE_ANDITES Andites] and the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_78#78:8._THE_SUMERIANS.E2.80.94LAST_OF_THE_ANDITES Sumerians] and based on the [[belief]] of the Salemites in [[Melchizedek]]'s insignia of the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Norlatiadek three circles].

95:1.4 The [[Salem]] teachers greatly reduced the [[number]] of the gods of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia], at one time bringing the chief [[deities]] down to [[seven]]: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel_%28god%29 Bel], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamash Shamash], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabu Nabu], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anu Anu], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enki Ea], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marduk Marduk], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin_(mythology) Sin]. At the height of the new teaching they exalted [[three]] of these gods to [[Dominate|supremacy]] over all others, the Babylonian triad: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel_%28god%29 Bel], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enka Ea], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anu Anu], the gods of [[earth]], [[sea]], and [[sky]]. Still other triads grew up in [[different]] localities, all reminiscent of the [[trinity]] teachings of the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_78#78:4._THE_ANDITES Andites] and the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_78#78:8._THE_SUMERIANS.E2.80.94LAST_OF_THE_ANDITES Sumerians] and based on the [[belief]] of the Salemites in [[Melchizedek]]'s insignia of the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Norlatiadek three circles].

95:1.5 Never did the [[Salem]] [[teachers]] fully overcome the popularity of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishtar Ishtar], the [[mother]] of gods and the [[spirit]] of [[sex]] [[fertility]]. They did much to refine the [[worship]] of this goddess, but the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonia Babylonians] and their neighbors had never completely outgrown their [[disguised]] [[forms]] of [[sex]] [[worship]]. It had become a [[universal]] [[practice]] throughout [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia] for all [[women]] to submit, at least once in early life, to the [[embrace]] of strangers; this was [[thought]] to be a [[devotion]] required by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishtar Ishtar], and it was believed that [[fertility]] was largely dependent on this [[sex]] [[sacrifice]].

95:1.5 Never did the [[Salem]] [[teachers]] fully overcome the popularity of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishtar Ishtar], the [[mother]] of gods and the [[spirit]] of [[sex]] [[fertility]]. They did much to refine the [[worship]] of this goddess, but the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonia Babylonians] and their neighbors had never completely outgrown their [[disguised]] [[forms]] of [[sex]] [[worship]]. It had become a [[universal]] [[practice]] throughout [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia] for all [[women]] to submit, at least once in early life, to the [[embrace]] of strangers; this was [[thought]] to be a [[devotion]] required by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishtar Ishtar], and it was believed that [[fertility]] was largely dependent on this [[sex]] [[sacrifice]].

95:1.6 The early [[progress]] of the [[Melchizedek]] teaching was highly gratifying until ''Nabodad'', the leader of the school at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kish_(Sumer) Kish], decided to make a concerted [[attack]] upon the prevalent [[practices]] of [[temple]] [[harlotry]]. But the [[Salem]] missionaries failed in their [[effort]] to bring about this [[social]] reform, and in the wreck of this failure all their more important [[spiritual]] and [[philosophic]] teachings went down in defeat.

95:1.6 The early [[progress]] of the [[Melchizedek]] teaching was highly gratifying until ''Nabodad'', the leader of the school at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kish_(Sumer) Kish], decided to make a concerted [[attack]] upon the prevalent [[practices]] of [[temple]] [[harlotry]]. But the [[Salem]] missionaries failed in their [[effort]] to bring about this [[social]] reform, and in the wreck of this failure all their more important [[spiritual]] and [[philosophic]] teachings went down in defeat.

95:1.7 This defeat of the [[Salem]] gospel was [[immediately]] followed by a great increase in the [[cult]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishtar Ishtar], a [[ritual]] which had already [[invaded]] [[Palestine]] as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtoreth Ashtoreth], Egypt as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis Isis], Greece as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphrodite Aphrodite], and the northern [[tribes]] as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astarte Astarte]. And it was in [[connection]] with this revival of the [[worship]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishtar Ishtar] that the Babylonian [[priests]] turned anew to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_astrology stargazing]; [[astrology]] experienced its last great Mesopotamian revival, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortunetelling fortunetelling] became the [[vogue]], and for centuries the [[priesthood]] increasingly [[deteriorated]].

95:1.7 This defeat of the [[Salem]] gospel was [[immediately]] followed by a great increase in the [[cult]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishtar Ishtar], a [[ritual]] which had already [[invaded]] [[Palestine]] as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtoreth Ashtoreth], Egypt as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis Isis], Greece as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphrodite Aphrodite], and the northern [[tribes]] as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astarte Astarte]. And it was in [[connection]] with this revival of the [[worship]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishtar Ishtar] that the Babylonian [[priests]] turned anew to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_astrology stargazing]; [[astrology]] experienced its last great Mesopotamian revival, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortunetelling fortunetelling] became the [[vogue]], and for centuries the [[priesthood]] increasingly [[deteriorated]].

95:1.8 [[Melchizedek]] had warned his followers to teach about the [[one]] [[God]], the [[Father]] and [[Creator|Maker]] of all, and to preach only the gospel of [[divine]] [[favor]] through [[faith]] alone. But it has often been the [[error]] of the [[teachers]] of new [[truth]] to attempt too much, to attempt to supplant slow [[evolution]] by sudden [[revolution]]. The [[Melchizedek]] missionaries in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia] raised a [[moral]] [[standard]] too high for the people; they attempted too much, and their [[noble]] cause went down in defeat. They had been commissioned to preach a definite [[gospel]], to [[proclaim]] the [[truth]] of the [[reality]] of the [[Universal Father]], but they became entangled in the apparently [[worthy]] [[cause]] of reforming the [[mores]], and thus was their great mission sidetracked and [[virtually]] lost in frustration and oblivion.

95:1.8 [[Melchizedek]] had warned his followers to teach about the [[one]] [[God]], the [[Father]] and [[Creator|Maker]] of all, and to preach only the gospel of [[divine]] [[favor]] through [[faith]] alone. But it has often been the [[error]] of the [[teachers]] of new [[truth]] to attempt too much, to attempt to supplant slow [[evolution]] by sudden [[revolution]]. The [[Melchizedek]] missionaries in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia] raised a [[moral]] [[standard]] too high for the people; they attempted too much, and their [[noble]] cause went down in defeat. They had been commissioned to preach a definite [[gospel]], to [[proclaim]] the [[truth]] of the [[reality]] of the [[Universal Father]], but they became entangled in the apparently [[worthy]] [[cause]] of reforming the [[mores]], and thus was their great mission sidetracked and [[virtually]] lost in frustration and oblivion.

95:1.9 In one [[generation]] the [[Salem]] [[headquarters]] at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kish_(Sumer) Kish] came to an end, and the [[propaganda]] of the [[belief]] in one God [[virtually]] ceased throughout [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia]. But remnants of the [[Salem]] schools [[persisted]]. Small bands scattered here and there continued their [[belief]] in the one [[Creator]] and fought against the [[idolatry]] and immorality of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamian] [[priests]].

95:1.9 In one [[generation]] the [[Salem]] [[headquarters]] at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kish_(Sumer) Kish] came to an end, and the [[propaganda]] of the [[belief]] in one God [[virtually]] ceased throughout [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia]. But remnants of the [[Salem]] schools [[persisted]]. Small bands scattered here and there continued their [[belief]] in the one [[Creator]] and fought against the [[idolatry]] and immorality of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamian] [[priests]].

95:1.10 It was the [[Salem]] missionaries of the period following the rejection of their teaching who wrote many of the [[Old Testament]] [[Psalms]], inscribing them on stone, where later-day [[Hebrew]] [[priests]] found them during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity captivity] and subsequently incorporated them among the collection of [[hymns]] ascribed to [[Jewish]] [[authorship]]. These [[beautiful]] [[psalms]] from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon] were not written in the [[temples]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel-Marduk Bel-Marduk]; they were the [[work]] of the descendants of the earlier [[Salem]] missionaries, and they are a striking [[contrast]] to the [[magical]] conglomerations of the Babylonian priests. The [[Book of Job]] is a fairly good [[reflection]] of the teachings of the [[Salem]] school at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kish_(Sumer) Kish] and throughout [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia].

95:1.10 It was the [[Salem]] missionaries of the period following the rejection of their teaching who wrote many of the [[Old Testament]] [[Psalms]], inscribing them on stone, where later-day [[Hebrew]] [[priests]] found them during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity captivity] and subsequently incorporated them among the collection of [[hymns]] ascribed to [[Jewish]] [[authorship]]. These [[beautiful]] [[psalms]] from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon] were not written in the [[temples]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel-Marduk Bel-Marduk]; they were the [[work]] of the descendants of the earlier [[Salem]] missionaries, and they are a striking [[contrast]] to the [[magical]] conglomerations of the Babylonian priests. The [[Book of Job]] is a fairly good [[reflection]] of the teachings of the [[Salem]] school at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kish_(Sumer) Kish] and throughout [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia].

95:1.11 Much of the Mesopotamian [[religious]] [[culture]] found its way into [[Hebrew]] [[literature]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liturgy liturgy] by way of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt Egypt] through the work of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenemope_%28author%29 Amenemope] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikhnaton Ikhnaton]. The Egyptians remarkably preserved the [[teachings]] of [[social]] [[obligation]] derived from the earlier [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_78#78:4._THE_ANDITES Andite] Mesopotamians and so largely lost by the later Babylonians who occupied the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Mesopotamia Euphrates valley].

95:1.11 Much of the Mesopotamian [[religious]] [[culture]] found its way into [[Hebrew]] [[literature]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liturgy liturgy] by way of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt Egypt] through the work of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenemope_%28author%29 Amenemope] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikhnaton Ikhnaton]. The Egyptians remarkably preserved the [[teachings]] of [[social]] [[obligation]] derived from the earlier [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_78#78:4._THE_ANDITES Andite] Mesopotamians and so largely lost by the later Babylonians who occupied the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Mesopotamia Euphrates valley].

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_95 Go to Paper 95]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_95 Go to Paper 95]</center>