#21: Second Temple Prayer and the Evil Inclination – A Cry to the Divine

In this episode, we examine the idea of an evil inclination in Second Temple prayer. How did Jews in the Second Temple period characterize the idea of an internal inclination to sin, and how did they expect God to help?

We will look closely at those prayers considered “non-sectarian” — that is, not specific to the Qumran text, and examine how the experience of prayer itself can shape perceptions of sin.

4 Responses to "#21: Second Temple Prayer and the Evil Inclination – A Cry to the Divine"

Shayla says:

August 10, 2017 at 8:19 pm

Seems like the argument of the inclination of sin being natural or unnatural to humans, can be traced back to the Garden of Eden. Before Adam and Eve ate from the tree of Good and Evil they had a natural inclination not to sin. Ounce they did, the inclination to sin became natural. For it says “their eyes where open”. Yet, since they both disobeyed God before eating the forbidden fruit one might think that there was the choice/freewill to sin. Which could be an argument that God made humans with an inclination to sin.
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  August 11, 2017 at 4:05 pm
  
  Hi Shayla,
  
  Thanks so much for your comment! I recommend you listen to my first episode: Understanding Sin and Evil #1: The Origin of Sin that Wasn’t. There I explore the biblical story of Adam and Eve and ask whether it is really about the origin of sin. Let me know what you think!
Charles Atkinson says:

August 15, 2017 at 10:02 pm

What was the name of the scroll from 4Q that spoken about: circumcision of heart, the evil inclination, and a heart of stone?

Thanks
1. Miryam Brand says:
  
  August 20, 2017 at 11:28 pm
  
  Hi Charles.
  It was 4QBarkhi Nafshi, which is 4Q434–438.

Comments are closed.

Share this:

Related