[Buddha-l] angel or sphinx?

[Kate]

Hi Michel,

The problem is we have yet to establish just what an angel looks like, or at 
least what the type of angel that visited Sodom looked like.  If the 
description given re man, lion, bull, eagle etc was referring to a sphinx, 
perhaps other references to angels in the Bible are talking about sphinxes.

Lot recognised the angels as being different from ordinary men as soon as he 
saw them.  There must have been something about them that was immediately 
remarkable.  Perhaps the angels radiated some form of pure divinity but this 
couldn't have been the only thing because while Lot was filled with awe, the 
other men were filled with lust.

Could be the angels were of great beauty and this attracted the men. 
However as mentioned sodomites were interested in both men and beasts.  So 
what could hold more beauty for them than an entity that combined the two?

There is a ninefold celestial hierarchy of heavenly beings along with a host 
of fallen angels and demons.  The ones we usually think of as 'angels' are 
the seraphs who are of the highest order and cherubs who are of the second 
order.  Both have wings but while the cherub resembles a child, originally 
the seraph were six-winged fiery flying serpents which sound more like 
dragons than angels. The 'fallen' angels were the "sons of God" type angels 
who came to earth to beget children on mortal women (Genesis 6:4)  Later 
these were called demons or incubi , or "fallen angels. (The Woman's 
Encyclopaedia of Myths and Secrets - BG Walker)

The thing is there were no really well-defined distinctions between angels, 
demons, familiars, fairies, elves, saints, genii, ancestral ghosts, or pagan 
gods. (Wimberly, 423)  Among supernatural beings one might always find many 
hazy areas of overlapping identities, even 'good' or 'evil' qualities being 
blurred". - (Woman's Encyclopaedia of Myths and Secrets)

The "angels" who turned up at Sodom could have been anything, though 
obviously they had attributes that were attractive to sodomites.  This most 
likely means they resembled Man, Beast or both.

Regards
Kate



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michel Clasquin" <clasqm at mweb.co.za>
To: "Buddhist discussion forum" <buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com>
Sent: Friday, May 27, 2005 7:14 AM
Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] angel or sphinx?


> Kate wrote:
>>
>> As their name implies, the Sodomites were into animals, not angels.....
>
> Wanna bet?
>
> Genesis
> 019:001 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the
>         gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and
>         he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
> 019:002 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into
>         your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet,
>         and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they
>         said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
> 019:003 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him,
>         and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did
>         bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
> 019:004 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of
>         Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the
>         people from every quarter:
> 019:005 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men
>         which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that
>         we may know them.
>
> "know" is a common biblical euphemism for "have sex with", as we can see 
> in verse 8:
>
> 019:006 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door
>         after him,
> 019:007 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
> 019:008 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let
>         me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as
>         is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for
>         therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
>
> Somehow they always seemed to forget to teach verse 8 in Sunday school...
>
> -- 
> "Many people would sooner die than think; In fact, they do so."
> -- Bertrand Russell
>
> _______________________________________________
> buddha-l mailing list
> buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com
> http://mailman.swcp.com/mailman/listinfo/buddha-l
>
>
> -- 
> Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.9 - Release Date: 12/05/2005
>
>