White Fang: the gods and Believing Loyalty
on Genesis Marks The Spot, Episode 25 - a podcast by Carey Griffel
Genesis Marks the Spot is the podcast of a friend and former classmate, Carey Griffel. Carey has an MA in Biblical Studies from Redemption Seminary and a Certificate of Biblical Studies from the AWKNG School of Theology. She also serves as an admin for the Divine Council Worldview Facebook Group. Carey’s podcast is full of highly interesting topics such as; the Divine Council, Exile of the Jews, Hermeneutics, Jesus and the Cosmic Powers, Sacred Space, and much, much more. I’ll be re-posting some of my favorite episodes over the course of several weeks. Please subscribe to her channel on YouTube or any of the major podcast platforms like Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Carey does an amazing job comparing aspects of the White Fang story to the idea of allegiance in evil/rebellious gods of the nations vs faithfulness or believing loyalty in the one true God. There is a summary of the episode farther down this page. To listen to the full episode, simply click play:
Carey talks about the Divine Council, which is a theme in biblical theology made popular by Dr. Michael S. Heiser. You can learn more about this particular thread of theology on Heiser’s website and in earlier episodes on Carey’s podcast.
Bible Passages:
Genesis 1:1; 26-28; 2:7; 2:15-17; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 10:19-21; 1 Thessalonians 1:9
Summary:
Show notes and the full transcript can be found here. This summary was generated with the help of ChatGPT.
The podcast "Genesis Marks the Spot" hosted by Carey Griffel delves into various aspects of biblical theology, “raiding the ivory tower” if you will, without undermining faith.1 In this episode, Carey discusses monotheism, the Divine Council, believing loyalty, and even references the book "White Fang" in connection with biblical theology.
Carey addresses concerns some may have about the Divine Council impinging on God's character or sovereignty but emphasizes the importance of interpreting scripture accurately without imposing personal biases. She introduces concepts like hermeneutics and exegesis to explain the methods of interpreting biblical texts and emphasizes the necessity of understanding the cultural context of ancient literature.
Carey also touches on the multifaceted usage of the English word "god" in different contexts and its significance in biblical interpretation, emphasizing how our understanding of the term varies depending on the context in which it's used. When encountered in biblical texts, "god" typically invokes the idea of the supreme creator, while in other contexts like mythology or cartoons, it may carry different connotations. However, Carey points out that the Bible doesn't make this distinction inherently.
She delves into the Hebrew Bible, where the most common term for God is "Elohim," seen in Genesis 1. Moving into Genesis 2, the term shifts to "Lord God," with "Lord" representing "Yahweh." This transition signifies a shift from a general relationship of God to creation in Genesis 1 to a more specific, covenantal relationship with Adam and Eve in Genesis 2. Carey suggests that this change reflects God's interaction with humans within a covenantal framework.
Next, Carey goes deeper into the term "Elohim," challenging common interpretations by providing a detailed word study. Again, she warns that without understanding the ancient context, it's easy to misinterpret the term. Carey highlights an outlier in its usage when it refers to the spirit of the deceased Samuel in 1 Kings 28, causing confusion regarding its application to humans.
Carey proposes viewing "Elohim" not as an ontological term defining creatures but as a place of residence term, implying beings dwelling in the spiritual realm rather than the mortal realm.2 This perspective helps reconcile seemingly contradictory uses of the term, such as referring to humans as "Elohim" in certain contexts, particularly human judges in Exodus. Carey argues that this usage doesn't equate humans with God but rather indicates a representation of God's interests on Earth.
Despite discomfort with using "Elohim" for both God and other spiritual beings, Carey asserts that it doesn't imply equivalence. She defends the English translation of "god" for both Yahweh and other divine beings, emphasizing that the word "god" holds specific meaning in language and context, as illustrated through the example of Jack London's "White Fang."
Carey then provides a detailed synopsis of Jack London's "White Fang" and draws parallels to biblical theology. White Fang, a wild-born part-dog part-wolf, survives in the wilderness with his mother, Kiche, until they encounter Gray Beaver and his tribe. Kiche's loyalty to Gray Beaver prompts her return to the tribe, and White Fang follows suit. However, life among the tribe is harsh for White Fang, as he faces persecution from other dogs and cruel treatment from humans.
Despite the hardships, White Fang's loyalty to Gray Beaver persists due to the power the humans hold over him. This loyalty is what truly makes them his "gods," rather than just their power. Carey highlights passages from the book that depict White Fang's obedience and attachment to Gray Beaver, showing how his bondage to the humans shapes his behavior and worldview.
Ultimately, White Fang's bond with Gray Beaver softens him and weakens his ability to fend for himself when he is left behind by the tribe. Carey emphasizes White Fang's loss of independence and his struggle to adapt to life outside the human camp, drawing attention to themes of loyalty, power dynamics, and the impact of bondage on identity and behavior.
Carey then explores the relationship between White Fang and his human masters, drawing parallels to the concept of faithfulness and allegiance in biblical theology.
White Fang's submission and loyalty to his human masters, whom he refers to as gods, are highlighted as fundamental aspects of his relationship with them. Carey emphasizes that it's not merely their power over him that makes them gods, but rather White Fang's willingness to offer his loyalty and obedience to them.
The distinction between faith as a mental agreement and faith as believing loyalty or allegiance is discussed, with Carey suggesting that the latter perspective aligns more closely with biblical teachings. This concept is likened to the relationship between White Fang and his gods, where obedience and loyalty play a central role.
Carey also explores the idea of symbiosis in religious relationships, contrasting it with the grace-based relationship Christians have with God. White Fang's interaction with his gods is portrayed as transactional, with each party fulfilling certain needs of the other. However, Carey emphasizes that the Christian concept of grace stems from a relational, rather than transactional, dynamic with God.
Furthermore, Carey reflects on how White Fang's experiences with his gods shape his personality, particularly his aggression, highlighting the profound influence that relationships and experiences can have on one's character.
Finally, a question posed by Dr. S. Joshua Swamidass regarding the nature of God and the existence of other gods in different religious traditions, and an analysis of Dr. William Lane Craig's response, provides further insight into theological discourse and its implications for missions and apologetics.
Overall, Carey’s examination of different theological terms such as monotheism, polytheism, henotheism, and monolatry, and their application to the biblical context, sheds light on the complexity of understanding divine beings in various religious frameworks. The discussion on worship versus veneration adds another layer to the understanding of devotion and allegiance. Carey uses the story of White Fang to explore themes of loyalty, obedience, and the nature of religious relationships, drawing insightful parallels to biblical theology and the concept of faithfulness. Her exploration of the protagonist's journey from loyalty to false gods to finding true loyalty and understanding of love is thought-provoking.
Episode 25 of Genesis Marks the Spot offers a rich exploration of theological concepts and their practical implications for believers. Please head over to genesismarksthespot.com and subscribe!
A trend in Christianity is to avoid academic or critical discussion of the Bible out of a fear that doing so will undermine one’s faith. After all, academia is largely biased against true faith. However, we can learn a lot from academia without fear of damage to our faith, if we approach it in the right way.
This was also Heiser’s view.