(OT) Tomorrow's Earth Day and.....

burnsbyrne · Post by **burnsbyrne** » Fri May 09, 2003 10:45 am

Walden wrote:
burnsbyrne wrote: Basically, he says that no one knows why another snake was added to the symbol.
Well, it does give it that Celtic knot look.

So maybe the barbaric Celts were responsible!

Lorenzo · Post by **Lorenzo** » Fri May 09, 2003 11:39 am

I think the serpent on the cross was biblical, perhaps Mosaic? But, it was probably an earlier idea borrowed from another culture, like so many of the other stories. I'd be interested to know the history of the old snake on the pole, and why and when it adopted by the AMA.

Jefferson · Post by **Jefferson** » Sat May 10, 2003 8:16 pm

Lorenzo wrote:I think the serpent on the cross was biblical, perhaps Mosaic? But, it was probably an earlier idea borrowed from another culture, like so many of the other stories. I'd be interested to know the history of the old snake on the pole, and why and when it adopted by the AMA.

You're right, Lorenzo, the snake on a pole is Mosaic. In the book of Numbers, the people of Israel were struck with a plague of poisonous snakes while wandering in the wilderness. Moses asked God what to do. "So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to the top of a pole. Whenever those who were bitten looked at the bronze snake, they recovered." [Num. 21:9 NLV] Hence, the image of a snake has come to represent healing. As to how the AMA came to adopt the symbol, I can't help you.

Another post noted that somewhere along the line the symbol picked up an extra snake, giving it a Celtic knot look. According to legend, St. Patrick drove all of the snakes out of Ireland. Maybe that's where the displaced snakes went???

energy · Post by **energy** » Mon May 12, 2003 4:36 pm

jim stone wrote:Hi, Energy,

Perhaps Walden is right in suggesting
that your reading of what
I said is a bit uncharitable?

This post is long overdue, I'm sorry for that. I've been spending a horrificly small amount of time on the board lately. Probably burnout from writing so many long posts...

Jim, I'm sorry if I came down too hard on you. I don't want ot come across as overly combative. I unashamedly admit that I'm touchy when it comes to Christian doctrine and especially the interpretation of the meaning of the cross, so that's why I was "a bit uncharitable". So, in short, please accept my apologies for jumping to conclusions.

Must say, a lot of stuff has happened on this thread since I checked it last...

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Mon May 12, 2003 8:31 pm

Thanks. You really made me think, in fact.
On we go. Best, Jim

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Tue May 13, 2003 1:28 am

Jefferson wrote:According to legend, St. Patrick drove all of the snakes out of Ireland.

Yeah, I like that guy.

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Tue May 13, 2003 2:53 am

You should hear what snakes say about him, though.

Lorenzo · Post by **Lorenzo** » Tue May 13, 2003 7:20 am

Birds and snakes are probably the oldest creatures connected with divine power. They were particularly associated with the gods and goddesses of the underworld, probably because the snakes lived in the ground. The snake shedding it's skin was seen as leaving behind the old and becoming new again...kind of a symbol of regeneration. There probably never were any snakes in Ireland, but the Celts brought with them a cult of the snake. So, the story of St. Patrick banishing the snakes from old Ireland was probably an allegory for ridding Ireland of the cult.

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Tue May 13, 2003 8:33 am

Binky the Wonder Possum
is a more recent divinity.

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Tue May 13, 2003 8:46 am

jim stone wrote:Binky the Wonder Possum
is a more recent divinity.

+

=

Lorenzo · Post by **Lorenzo** » Tue May 13, 2003 10:42 am

Walden wrote:

Now that reminds of my divine aunt, around Christmas every year!

Ah, if all divinity was only that flawless...