Data Over Dogma Hiding God
12 snips
Jan 26, 2026 A lively walkthrough of the book of Esther, noting its palace drama, reversals, and the curious lack of explicit divine language. A debate about whether public displays of faith are effective witness or mere signaling. Discussion of costly signaling, Jesus' critique of ostentatious piety, and practical takeaways about when to keep religion private.
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God Is Missing In Esther
- The Hebrew book of Esther contains no explicit mention of God, which is striking for a biblical text.
- The lack invites readers to infer divine action behind events rather than direct divine intervention.
Esther Missing At Qumran
- Esther is absent from the Dead Sea Scrolls, which raises questions about its early canonical status.
- Scholars suggest omission may reflect its non-theological tone or accidental preservation gaps.
Names Signal Persian Setting
- Many character names in Esther likely derive from older Near Eastern deities and languages.
- That suggests the author chose Persian-flavored names to root the tale in its imperial setting.
