[IMAGE 5]

Judaism never has denied its visions.  And it readily admits its having "slam-dunked" most of its early cosmology.  We correctly may refer to Judaism as a "growth" theology whereas Christianity is a "static" theology. At one time, various people of the Fertile Crescent carried their gods and goddesses around with them in sacred boxes.  The Hebrews gave up that practice much earlier than others of their neighbors.

What we see in end-view, like it or not, is how the early Hebrews described the Ark of the Covenant, complete with feet, rings, and carrying poles ("staves') and with God sitting on His folding camp-stool "throne" on the lid of the Ark, ready to deliver His commandments for the Israelites. Book of Exodus 25:21-22.  The Torah (Old Testament) says that those commandments were delivered between the two ox-faced Cherubims on opposite ends of the "mercy seat," that is, the lid of the Ark.  Book of Exodus 25:18-20.  We have folded the two Cherubims down into two-dimensional view so their faces may be seen, whereas they were to be seen in three-dimensions, facing each other, and spreading their wings over the lid.  Book of Exodus 25:20. 

Why is it that these line-form images never offend modern adherents of Judaism, whereas they send Christian Fundamentalists into spasms of uncontrolled anger?  My answer: Hebrew growth theology versus Christian static theology.  By the way, how do we know that the cherubim have ox-faces?  The Prophet Ezekiel tell us so.  In the Book of Ezekiel 1:10, we are told that the "creatures" had four faces: a man face, a lion face, an ox face, and an eagle face, whereas in the Book of Ezekiel 10:14 we are told that the "Cherubims" had a man face, a lion face, an eagle face, and a "cherub" face.  There is no mention in the Book of Ezekiel 10:14 of the "ox face" of the Book of Ezekiel 1:10.  But the Prophet Ezekiel tells us that his tenth-chapter "Cherubims" were the same creature he had seen in his first-chapter vision beside the River Chebar.  Book of Ezekiel 1:1 and 10:15.  Ergo, "Cherubim" or "Cherubims" have the face of an ox!  That is, if elementary logic can be applied to cosmology/theology!

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