Tag Archives: Michael Heiser

the doctrine of revelation and henotheism

Posted on May 15, 2019 by theoutwardquest

One of the blind spots in the academic study of religion has to do with revelation. Actual religious people believe that God has revealed or disclosed some of the meaning of existence and divinity. But titles like Mark Smith’s The … Continue reading →

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Heiser-reading the Bible with new eyes

Posted on May 13, 2019 by theoutwardquest

I have now read through Michael Heiser’s The Unseen Realm. He never does have a section that deals with my question of how one integrates the Bible’s supernatural worldview into modernity. This includes its idea of a pantheon where Israel’s … Continue reading →

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Heiser-holy war and tall people

Posted on May 9, 2019 by theoutwardquest

In The Unseen Realm Michael Heiser takes a stab at explaining holy war in ancient Israel and the troubling concept of harem, the dedication of conquered enemies to destruction. The Deuteronomy 32 worldview switches the usual concept of God’s election … Continue reading →

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Heiser-the angel in the bush

Posted on May 7, 2019 by theoutwardquest

I watched the whole Ten Commandments for the first time in years just before Easter. That movie filters the way my generation reads Exodus. Having recently been to a Metallica concert, I was struck by how that band’s song, Creeping … Continue reading →

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Heiser-the territoriality and omnipresence of God

Posted on May 3, 2019 by theoutwardquest

  There is a helpful and enthusiastic review of Michael Heiser’s The Unseen Realm here by Tim Chaffey.  He uses one of Heiser’s own terms to characterize his theory, “The Deuteronomy 32 worldview”. That draws us to the lines of … Continue reading →

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Heiser-evil spirits for and against God

Posted on May 1, 2019 by theoutwardquest

I admit that I have a prejudice with regard to the whole traditional doctrine of the Fall. That doctrine has caused much mischief, it seems to me. And I have noticed that Jews, reading the same Bible, have not found … Continue reading →

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Heiser-kicked off the mountain

Posted on April 29, 2019 by theoutwardquest

I am reading Michael Heiser’s The Unseen Realm, where he delves into ancient mythology to illuminate the Bible. Mythologies have a place that is an abode of the gods. Most famous is Olympus, the home of the Greek gods. But … Continue reading →

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Heiser-poetry and metaphor, or something more?

Posted on April 25, 2019 by theoutwardquest

I hope I have established that in The Unseen Realm Michael Heiser is on to something that is really there in the Bible. Even in the priestly creation story there is the idea that God is acting along with others: … Continue reading →

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Heiser-elohim, gods and spirits

Posted on April 23, 2019 by theoutwardquest

I am reading Michael Heiser’s The Unseen Realm. His reading of Psalm 82:1 is what led him to question what he had been taught about the nothingness of gods other than the Lord. Sometimes the Hebrew word elohim refers to … Continue reading →

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