“…which is exactly what we should expect from the initial speculations.”
But you/we have no basis for asserting what should be “expected” from all those responsible for having produced over centuries the literary amalgam of various distinct literary traditions (the Jahwist, Ephraimitic, Deuteronomist, and Priestly) that is the Hebrew Bible, especially when such “critical examination” of the historical and scientific accuracy of their own material was of furthest concern regarding their project of reflecting upon the human condition, meaning and ultimate destiny.
To judgmentally, anachronistically and unjustly demand and find no such scientific examination by the initial speculators is akin to denigrating Rembrandt for not pursuing and knowing the atomic weight of the lead in his paint.
(It is both curious and sad that many today are perfectly happy to assert their superiority in asserting what “we” should expect of people of the past, just as it is curious and sad that so many religiously take the scriptural texts as complete historical and scientific fact. On both counts, it is so misdirected and unnecessary.)
PS: Strange you should uncritically raise up curiosity.
Curiosity about what happens after death is the very beginning of many a religious speculation.
Besides, curiosity can be deadly. Hitler and Stalin began by being “curious” as to just how far they could extend their “godly” power over life and death.
Looking at a photo of an American Airlines 747 first class cabin. Lined rearward in the center aisle are four round tables, each surrounded by up to four huge lounge chairs of the type seen in a swank Victorian men’s club.
“…which is exactly what we should expect from the initial speculations.”
But you/we have no basis for asserting what should be “expected” from all those responsible for having produced over centuries the literary amalgam of various distinct literary traditions (the Jahwist, Ephraimitic, Deuteronomist, and Priestly) that is the Hebrew Bible, especially when such “critical examination” of the historical and scientific accuracy of their own material was of furthest concern regarding their project of reflecting upon the human condition, meaning and ultimate destiny.
To judgmentally, anachronistically and unjustly demand and find no such scientific examination by the initial speculators is akin to denigrating Rembrandt for not pursuing and knowing the atomic weight of the lead in his paint.
(It is both curious and sad that many today are perfectly happy to assert their superiority in asserting what “we” should expect of people of the past, just as it is curious and sad that so many religiously take the scriptural texts as complete historical and scientific fact. On both counts, it is so misdirected and unnecessary.)