I wonder how many Native Americans, or Africans would trade histories of persecution with the Jews any day?

Our mental functions arose from dealing with problems, not basking in our puddles, or we would still be tadpoles. Maybe some of the acuity Jews are famous for, is a product of that persecution?

Apparently having one's tribal deity become the locus of Western Civ was not a total benefit.

The logical flaw in monotheism is that ideals are not absolutes.

Truth, beauty, platonic forms are ideals. The creeds, codes, heroes, narratives at the core of every society are ideals.

The universal, on the other hand, is the elemental, so a spiritual absolute would be the essence of sentience, from which we rise, not an ideal of wisdom and judgement, from which we fell.

The Greeks actually had a better system, with gods as metaphors for all the diverse memes, events, places, stages of life, etc. To the Ancients, monotheism basically meant monoculture. One people, one rule, one god. Ancient Israel was a monarchy.

Democracy and republicanism originated in pantheistic cultures. The many ideas and ideals competing.

Constantine adopted Christianity for the monotheism, as he brought the Empire back together. The Big Guy Rules.

The reason why the New Testament supplanted the Old Testament was because civilization had to grow beyond just the Bronze Age tribalism. Networking mattered as much as the nodes. "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you." What goes round, comes round. Karma.

"Turn the other cheek." Because two wrongs don't make a right.

Humanity is grown from small communal groups to nations of millions of people in the last few thousand years. It's been a process of evolution. Growing pains.

While those old books make good heirlooms, don't let them define your existence.