In Our Image: The History and Mystery In Our Look at Life

By Debra Marie Albaugh

Digital edition, full color. This compilation is from my A papers in Biblical and theological study, includes insight from art study, and adventures from other personal Bible study. For example I had gone to the library to search on a topic, had been urged by the Holy Spirit toward a book, picked it up and began to leaf through the pages. A wind blew and immediately it opened to an excerpt. It told a story of a society of men in ancient Egypt who practiced a bazaar ceremony. In the King's Chamber of the Great Pyramid at Giza it was discovered all that remained was dust of the ages and a stone sarcophagus, on walls hieroglyphics. Translation told the story. Candidates for priest and pharaoh were placed in the stone sarcophagus, sealed with wax, experienced a near-death encounter with an angel of light called “Osiris”—whose appearance is depicted in hieroglyphics, and they were initiated into an ancient mystery cult of “Osiris”—stronghold of “MYSTERY BABYLON.”

Color, photos, charts, graphs
300-400 pages

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312137127

Book preview

In Our Image: The History and Mystery In Our Look at Life

In Our Image: The History and Mystery In Our Look at Life

By Debra Marie Albaugh

This is a compilation of writing from my A papers in Biblical and theological study, it includes the discovery and observation of those things uncovered in art study, and it includes other writing and observation from personal Biblical study. May it be as intriguing, fascinating, and enlightening as I have found it, discovering God’s word.

This writing does not only contain evidence relating to the spirit, it also contains the unveiling of mysteries I discovered during study, personal accounts, and it includes steps that seemed to follow in understanding how these mysteries seem to form the world. So the study, relaying the way the views impact theology, philosophy, and the world, continues unveiling, but I must put this much down on paper for now.

The History and Mystery

In Our Look at Life

DIGITAL EDITION

DEBRA MARIE ALBAUGH

Copyright

Copyright © 2014 by Debra Marie Albaugh

Published by Debra Marie Albaugh in the United States of America

Illustrating the timeline of the development of Scripture throughout history Scripture quotations and Hebrew and Greek word studies unless otherwise noted are from the most well-known translation of the Holy Scriptures, the King James Version in English, which is only one among over 6,800 languages spoken in the world as noted by Wycliffe Bible Translators. The Holy Bible, King James Version (1611, 1616, 1629, 1638, 1762, 1769). Copyright © 1996-2014, from The Blue Letter Bible at http://www.BlueLetterBible.org. Selected quotations from the Modern King James Version from Valusoft. Copyright © 2014. Also quoted: The Geneva Bible (1599) from http://genevabible.com/. Copyright © 2006 restored edition by Tolle Lege Press. Selected quotations from The Wycliffe Bible (1384) from http://www.biblegateway.com/. Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. And the Darby Translation (1890) from early years of Plymouth Brethren. Published in 1890 by John Nelson Darby, available also from http://www.biblegateway.com/.

Also some quotations from the New American Standard Bible which critiques the King James Version, with bracketed notation of texts typically included in the King James Version which some seek to edit out, such as the significant doctrinal statement of Mark 16:9-20 that reflects crucial doctrine otherwise prevalent in Acts and the early church, such as the Great Commission of Mark 16:15, also indicated in Matthew 28:20 and Acts 1:8. In contention against the gospel Mark 16:9-20 it is argued by some does not appear in earliest known manuscripts. Copyright © 2007 by The Lockman Foundation.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. The only exception is brief quotations as in printed reviews.

Albaugh, Debra Marie, 1955—

In Our Image: The History and Mystery In Our Look at Life Digital Edition/Debra Marie Albaugh

Includes bibliographic references.

ISBN: 978-1-312-13712-7

All illustrations without credits belong to the author.

Interior and exterior design and title font design by Debra Marie Albaugh

Dedication

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen—Jude 1:25 (KJV)

Preface

I recall in 1989 as God spoke to my spirit about the relationship between tadpole drawings, identified by researchers I noted while studying childhood drawing development, and the stages of unborn children.[1] I observed the unspoken message written by tiny humans. As an artist the avenue of self-expression is a joy. Like the work of a musician, it is the creative expression of who we are, each unique.

Though humans may be inclined to reject one and embrace another. God does not. He expresses Himself in each as Creator. God gives ability. The innate desire is seen in children’s earliest drawings. This volume is a study of the adventure.

This is a compilation of writing from A papers in Biblical and theological study, it includes the discovery and observation of those things uncovered in art study, and it includes other writing and observation from personal Biblical study. May it be as intriguing, fascinating, and enlightening as I have found it, discovering God’s word.

This writing does not only contain evidence relating to the spirit, it also contains the unveiling of mysteries I discovered during study, personal accounts, and it includes steps that seemed to follow in understanding how these mysteries seem to form the world. So the study, relaying the way the views impact theology, philosophy, and the world, continues unveiling, but I must put this much down on paper for now.

As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all (Ecclesiastes 11:5, KJV).[2]

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[1]. Viktor Lowenfeld and W. Lambert Brittain, Creative and Mental Growth (New York: Macmillan, 1987), 223.

The characteristic noted—drawing developmental stages called tadpoles by researchers—is so prevalent that the developmental stages are used to determine readiness for elementary education, as the developmental stage of children’s drawing development, that is, at what stage they draw the human figure, determines level of readiness for elementary education. This is so much so that, the stages of tadpole drawing development are thoroughly researched. See Marvin L. Simner, School Readiness and the Draw-A-Man Test: An Empirically Derived Alternative to Harris’ Scoring System, Journal of Learning Disabilities 18 (1985): 77-82. And see the first appendix.

[2]. Lowenfeld and Brittain, Creative and Mental Growth, 223.

Viktor Lowenfeld noted in Creative and Mental Growth,

Although it is not clear just how the person symbol originates, the universality of the circle for the head and the two lines representing legs gives support to the notion that this is somehow biological in nature; that is all children, either through their sight, hand control, or cognitive development, make surprisingly similar configurations for a person. This is true for children from cultures as diverse as Australian Aborigines and United States Middle Class (Brittain, 1985.) Golomb’s studies (1977) of the representational development of the human figure found no differences attributable to socioeconomic or cultural influences.

The observations of the characteristics of children’s drawings are, like in other observations of science in evolutionary theory, interpreted in a God-less manner by some. But the evidence itself is evidence of the conscious spirit before there is neurological development to show consciousness, not unlike evidence of consciousness without neurologic activity in near-death experiences as will be discussed later. I experienced first-hand the difficulty when required to depict another figure and observed first-hand the difficulty of others in the class required to depict another figure. The difficulty with depicting body characteristics different than our personal characteristics was observable because we were required to work very quickly and the result of very quick spontaneous drawing without deliberation kept turning out looking like ourselves. I believe children are doing the same thing and the reason these early stages are so similar is because the in utero stages are so similar. I believe they are drawing their awareness of their experience of their in utero appearance.

Introduction

Worldviews are a significant part of the way we view the world. They impact our perception of reality. They impact our perception of the environment. And they impact our perception of ourselves. How do they relate to the issues discussed in this book? They relate, as I had seen, as I adventured through worldview study and interaction, writing college papers and identifying events in history that led to the current views in the world. This writing does not only contain evidence relating to the spirit, it also contains the unveiling of mysteries I discovered during study, personal accounts, and it includes steps that seemed to follow in understanding how these mysteries seem to form the world. So the study, relaying the way the views impact theology, philosophy, and the world, continues unveiling, but I must put this much down on paper for now.

The compilation, some of the content, might appear as bunny trails, but like I have studied, I included the information I came across that seemed to fit to convey the mysterious information I discovered. Some of this relates to ancient mysteries, mysteries about the universe, and mysteries about the past and from scripture and about God. I included information in insets that are in addition to the text, because they related, though they broke up the flow, or I included information in notes in the back. The context is a compilation of A papers from study, from research, and from additional writing, and events that occurred as I completed Bible study.

Chapter 1

God created man as a conscious spirit from the beginning, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul—Genesis 2:7

Photo from NASA

The Beginning

The Proof of the Conscious Spirit

"For thou hast possessed my reins, thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee: for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works: and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect: and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned,[3] when as yet there was none of them" (Psalm 139:13-16, KJV).

A NOTE FROM THE KING JAMES BIBLE

The King James Version of the Holy Scriptures, as in Psalm 139, revised the many previous English versions and was guided by the Greek and Hebrew—Donald L. Brake, A Visual History of the English Bible.[4]

I am an artist and have enjoyed the pleasures of self-expression for many years. It was as a student at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in the 1970’s that I studied fashion illustration along with a group of bright young illustrators. In our efforts to achieve the style and flavor that would be uniquely our own, we discovered that our spontaneous fashion illustrations resembled ourselves much more than the elegant and stately models poised before us.

It can be extremely difficult to create a tall slender fashion drawing when our own figure is just a bit too short or plump or athletic. The obvious likeness was our own. And it was a trait that was most challenging to overcome. I would often return early from a break to see the work of our classmates. Each could be readily identified by their image projected in ink and watercolor washes.

A NOTE REGARDING THE SPIRIT

Initial stages conveyed in children’s drawings occur prior to five weeks gestation, giving evidence of the conscious spirit of the person. God knew Jeremiah before he was formed (1:5). Proverbs 20:27 explains, "The spirit (nĕshamah) of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly (KJV). And scripture explains, For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God (I Corinthians 2:11, KJV). Job 33:14-18 explains, For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. He keepeth back his soul (nephesh) from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword" (KJV). God relates to the spirit and the soul. Defined by Strong’s Lexicon in the Blue Letter Bible, Hebrew for spirit, nĕshamah, signifies the, breath, or spirit, and the soul, nephesh, signifies the, soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion, that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, also the seat of the appetites, or activity of the will, the activity of the character, and in Greek, psychē, soul, signifies, the breath of life, the seat of the feelings, and that in which there is life.[5]

It was a number of years later that I returned to college to pursue further study in art education and learned the stages of development in children’s drawings. The characteristics found in a child’s depictions of the human figure are not influenced by culture or economic status. Viktor Lowenfeld, a researcher in early childhood drawing development, wrote in Creative and Mental Growth,

Although it is not clear just how the person symbol originates, the universality of the circle for the head and the two lines representing legs gives support to the notion that this is somehow biological in nature; that is all children, either through their sight, hand control, or cognitive development, make surprisingly similar configurations for a person. This is true for children from cultures as diverse as Australian Aborigines and United States Middle Class (Brittain, 1985.) Golomb’s studies (1977) of the representational development of the human figure found no differences attributable to socioeconomic or cultural influences.[6]

Examples of depictions of baseline drawing and tadpole drawing are shown above.

A NOTE REGARDING ..were fashioned..

Spiros Zodhites writes of were fashioned, yātsar, this is probably identical with 3334. It means to form, to fashion, to devise, to frame; to produce, to create; to be formed or fashioned; to exist; to be predestined. The word implies initiation as well as structuring. In its part. form it is a potter or a creator.[7] In context regarding the womb as noted in Psalms 139:13-16 the text refers to the context of development in utero recognizable in the depiction in the verses. There are renderings which view the passage referring to future life. But as Spiros Zodhiates explains, the verses reflect the meaning of formation seen in the King James Bible.[8]

The sequence of figure drawing development in children’s drawings is well-researched phenomena, where primarily the symbol develops in pre-schematic stages between four to seven years of age.[9] Drawings are called tadpoles by researchers due to the obvious resemblance of the changing developmental processes like seen in tadpoles.[10] The circular drawing grows legs, arms, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, hair and so on. Over a period of years a small body is added, fingers, toes, and all the bright details of the human figure, at first floating about on a page smiling happily. Then a dramatic change takes place about seven to nine years of age when baseline drawing emerges, replacing the floating tadpole developmental figure, and a fully formed figure becomes a part of the landscape where a house, and tree and sun becomes the ever increasing detail of the creative expression of childhood.[11]

A NOTE REGARDING ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTICS

Consider regarding the spirit, research indicates only 1-2% of the U.S. population hold atheist views, 8% agnostic (Barna Group, 2007).[12] Belief in life after death, as according to scripture and Christian theology, holds that thought is manifested by the spirit, which is present in eternity in heaven or hell, and as from the beginning as noted in Psalm 139 (Luke 16:22-23). For example, it is noted in near-death research that there is evidence of conscious thought processes where no neurological activity is present, as noted by Dr. Neal Grossman in the Journal of Religion & Psychical Research.[13]

The early stages in the development of the human figure are a life story written by children, a chronicle of the development of a child in the womb of their mother, an expression not unlike our own as we sat in fashion illustration class or kindergarten class or doodling our way through our teacher’s rendition of Great Expectations.[14]

The only way that a child can depict so clearly his or her own growing body is through the personal experience of their spirit—feeling the sensations of their growing body, then one day to give expression to that wonderful journey through a vivid means of self-expression, their drawings. Such a profound experience has a way of engraving itself on the inside of us and it becomes an innate part of our very identity. Beyond a function of our memory, it becomes a part of our very soul (Proverbs 2:9-11, 20:27).[15]

I remember the moment when the revelation hit home for me. I was sitting at my desk reading my Bible when the Holy Spirit tapped me on the shoulder, Do you see, Deb? Do you see? I had much information stored in my memory, but it was about to be deposited in my spirit as an indelible etching by the Spirit of God.

When a revelation comes it is much like a joke when everybody gets it but you. All of the others are laughing and there you are. The information is there, but it just doesn’t click in. And when it does there is an electric wave of enlightenment, delightful relief and accompanying laughter.

But for me in that moment of revelation, I cried out. They are alive! My Dear God the babies….! They are perhaps more conscious than we. Over the years have we allowed ourselves to become numb to the sacred reality of life and in light of the advances in the field of medicine have we in proportion digressed in the cultivation of the basic virtues of, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness?[16] The rebuilding can start with you, by taking a strong stand on behalf of those who cannot stand, by speaking up for those who cannot speak, and by being there for those who may be making the biggest mistake of their life and the life of their child.

Continuing in discussion of the spirit, the minute levels of life at a tiny size are at the center of a myriad of worldviews which are at the heart of a myriad of religious and philosophical views present in the world, bringing such great conflict.

A NOTE REGARDING THE STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

Below are illustrations of the in utero development stages shown along with the drawing development stages in childhood. The comparison between the two indicates a great awareness of the stages by children with some striking illustrations in their drawings like noted in the drawing by a four year old seen in note 19 for the first appendix.

A NOTE REGARDING EVIDENCE

Note the drawing by a four year old appearing to depict conception and cell division also seen in the notations for the appendix, Evidence. Scholarly documented record of the drawings of childhood and of the array of research is not difficult to find. See Viktor Lowenfeld, Creative and Mental Growth, pg. 194.

Chapter 1 Summary

Belief consciousness is by the brain is the argument of atheistic materialism seen in evolutionary theory. While conversely Biblically consciousness is a manifestation of the spirit as Genesis describes, where man is created in God’s image like His conscious Spirit. [17] So worldviews impact theology dramatically.[18]

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[3]. For Hebrew terms for were fashioned and other Hebrew words see the word studies in The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible. Spiros Zodhiates, "Yātsar," in The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible (Chattanooga, Tennessee: AMG Publishers, 1984, 1991), 1620. Spiros Zodhiates includes word studies which are tied to Strong’s numbering system and lexicon, available in the King James Version and the New American Standard Bible version. Study of and reference to the original languages is crucial to understand the meaning of scriptural passages and to enjoy discovery of the word of God as the Bible was not originally written in English but rather ancient languages of Hebrew and Greek text as well as Aramaic as can be seen in observation of passages as noted in the lexicon of the Blue Letter Bible available online, cited throughout notations here. Also the historical background of the development of scriptural versions is relayed in A Visual History of the English Bible by Donald Brake noted below. Also available is A Visual History of the King James Bible by the same author. Donald L. Brake, and Shelly Beach, A Visual History of the King James Bible (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2011).

Note also verses Proverbs 24:11-12, If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works? (KJV). And, Proverbs 31:8, Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction (KJV).

[4]. Donald L. Brake, A Visual History of the English Bible (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2008), 190.

[5]. See "Dictionary and Word Search for nĕshamah (Strong’s 5397)," Blue Letter Bible (1996-2013), accessed April 26, 2013, http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5397&t=KJV; "Dictionary and Word Search for nephesh (Strong’s 5315)," Blue Letter Bible (1996-2013), accessed April 26, 2013, http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5315&t=KJV; "Dictionary and Word Search for psychē (Strong’s 5590)," Blue Letter Bible (1996-2013), accessed April 26, 2013, http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G5590&t=KJV; Passage Lookup for Proverbs 20:27," Bible Gateway (2013), accessed August 17, 2013, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2020:27%20&version=WYC.

The Blue Letter Bible is available online for word studies of the original languages through the Strong’s numbered lexicon.

The Wycliffe Bible (1384) cites of Proverbs 20:27, "The lantern of the Lord is the spirit of man, that seeketh out all the privates of the womb. (The spirit of people is the lantern of the Lord, and it seeketh out all our innermost secrets.)"

[6]. Lowenfeld and Brittain, Creative and Mental Growth, 223.

[7]. Zodhiates, "Yātsar," in The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, 1620.

[8]. Ibid.

[9]. Lowenfeld and Brittain, Creative and Mental Growth, 223.

[10]. Ibid.

[11]. Ibid.

[12]. Atheists and Agnostics Take Aim at Christians, Barna Group, June 11, 2007, accessed May 5, 2013, http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/102-atheists-and-agnostics-take-aim-at-christians?q=media+technology. See chart later in Chapter 2.

Note Romans 1:20 cites creation is evidence of the immense power of God to create by His spoken word, not unlike Jesus’ power to speak into existence the hand of the man in Mark 3:1-5. Jesus has authority over matter.

[13]. Neal Grossman, What Happens When We Die: A Philosophical Series, My Beliefs About Life After Death, Journal of Religion & Psychical Research 27 (2004): 4.

[14]. Charles Dickens, Great Expectations (1860, 1861).

It should be noted, the tendency to draw the female figure too muscular is a reason men may not readily draw feminine women in fashion illustrations. They tend to draw the female too muscular, projecting male traits, which is different than typically female.

Children project their appearance in utero similarly as the spirit is conscious of the stages. See note 45 Chapter 2 regarding communication by dreams with the mother which is a spiritual phenomenon in utero. The perception thought results from the brain is atheistic materialism.

[15]. "Dictionary and Word Search for nephesh (Strong’s 5315)," Blue Letter Bible; "Dictionary and Word Search for psychē (Strong’s 5590)," Blue Letter Bible.

[16]. Declaration of Independence, paragraph 2, Congress, July 4, 1776, National Archives, accessed April 25, 2013, http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html. Also see Chapter 5.

Of special note regarding the diverse population of the colonies—settled were Scots, Welsh, Irish, Dutch, Swedes, Finns, Africans, French, Germans, Swiss and English—of which the current population of the continent gives evidence. I as the author am of Dutch, Irish, and maybe Scotch, and maybe German, descent. The United States is diverse as a result of the diverse population of the colonies and has regions of the country where those particular populations are well situated and enjoyed, such as the Amish region where many go to enjoy their devout culture and restaurants. And those observing even retail stores will note, we have a growing Hispanic population, where even product labels are seen in Spanish. Chinese food is enjoyed, as well as Mexican. The population and culture is diverse, as had been the colonies, which is