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Forbidden
Knowledge
I’ve always been a seeker of knowledge, since I was a pre-teen I have searched for the most ancient texts, the original knowledge of mankind. The idea that certain knowledge would be “forbidden” is what would make me seek it even more! Religious authorities (Vatican, I’m looking at you, among others) collected much of the knowledge written by their perceived enemies or cultures they dominated and tried to control. I was always told the best books were to be found (and secrets guarded) in the biggest religious institutions, and I’m certain this is true.
The concept that certain types of knowledge or technology were considered the domain of the divine and not meant to be shared with humans was a control mechanism established by religious authorities who perceived sharing of knowledge as a threat to their established order. By framing certain types of knowledge, they could; limit access to certain information, explain the origin of knowledge that was already widespread, or create a narrative that justified their authority as keepers of “sacred knowledge”.
According to the Book of Enoch, the Watchers descended to Earth and taught humans various arts and sciences that were considered forbidden. This knowledge was generally categorized as:
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Celestial mysteries (astronomy, astrology)
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Magic and enchantments
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Advanced technology (metallurgy, weaponry)
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Cosmetics and adornment
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Herbal lore and medicine
But hold on, ancient peoples already knew and practiced many of these long before the earliest parts of the Bible were even written! This contradiction shows us the importance of critically examining ancient texts and understanding them within historical and cultural contexts, rather than taking them at face value. Let’s unpack the different types of knowledge, and you’ll see that it’s more likely that stories about divine beings teaching this knowledge was an attempt to explain the origins of already ancient practices.
Evidence of our knowledge of celestial mysteries dates back over 34,000 years. The mammoth tusk carving found in Germany shows Orion as it would have looked in that time. Fast forward 15,000 years to the Lascaux Caves and a representation which is most likely the Pleiades. Many ancient cultures, including those in Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and the Americas, had sophisticated astronomical knowledge dating back thousands of years. This knowledge was often used for practical purposes like agriculture, navigation, and timekeeping, as well as for religious and cultural practices.
Prehistorians and paleontologists have speculated that almost all of the 130 ancient cave sites have representations or alignments that relate to astronomy
The origins of magic are incredibly ancient, predating written history by many thousands of years. Early cave paintings and artifacts from the Paleolithic era suggest magical and spiritual practices. Shamanic traditions date from prehistoric times, and influenced the writings of early civilizations in Ancient Mesopotamia. It’s important to note that magic as we know it today was interwoven into ancient cultures, it was not something separate, it was part and parcel of their rituals, ceremonies, healing practices and helped them see their place in the world. Magic later became a label to demonize the practices of a culture with different knowledge or rituals, which would be labeled as dangerous or “forbidden”. Knowing the rituals of a rival tribe or culture could undermine the power structure of religious authorities.
Our technological progress has been exponential, with more advancements happening in the past 200 years than in the previous 200,000. However, even the earliest stories in Genesis are set in a time long after metalworking was established, and Biblical authors would have been aware of established metalworking traditions. The concept of divinely ordained warfare is common in many ancient cultures and provides justification for conflict, as we’ve seen historically (and even today holy wars continue as the power dynamics are strongly tied to cultural identity but also fragile egos of the ruling politicians). Military success tied to religious devotion boosts morale among warriors/soldiers and spurs them on to fight for their god as well as their people.
Humans have also used cosmetics and adornments since prehistoric times. Shell beads used for jewelry 75,000 years ago have been discovered in South Africa. Copper and Jade jewelry have been discovered in Pakistan and China dating thousands of years before the Bible was written. So why would religious authorities class this as “forbidden”? Again, it seems to be about power and control:
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By tying adornment practices to divine will, existing social and gender hierarchies could be reinforced.
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If certain adornments were seen as sacred due to their divine origin, religious authorities could control their production and use.
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It could justify the use of specific cosmetics or adornments in religious rituals, enhancing their perceived power.
But of course face and body painting were used as part of ritual and ceremony since prehistoric times. Archaeologists digging at the Twin Rivers hilltop cave near Lusaka in Zambia have found evidence for the use of colours - minerals and ochres used for body painting - dating back 300,000 years ago.
Finally, herbal medicine dates back at least 60,000 years, probably more, based on the archaeological findings. Between 50-60,000 years ago, scientists discovered a Neaderthal burial site and a cave in Iraq that contained evidence of herbs being used as medicine. By the time of the Sumerians and Egyptians, herbal medicine was well documented.
While the Bible itself actually supports the use of herbal medicine, in the Book of Enoch, Semjaza supposedly taught humans enchantments and root cuttings, the use of herbs in magic and medicine. Perhaps this refers more to the use of herbs and roots in curses or spells, but again, this knowledge had existed for many thousands of years before any Biblical or apocryphal texts were written. Some herbal practices in ancient times were closely linked with magical rituals or divination, which are explicitly forbidden in Biblical texts and this could be what was referred to in the story of the Watchers.
It is easy to understand, in today’s age of misinformation, why religious authorities who wanted power and control would want to also control information. The Watchers story is meant to be a lesson in part, but also a warning. Information in the hands of the wrong people can be disastrous. However, most if not all of the information that the Watchers were accused of sharing was already widely known and used, so more likely this was about positioning the divine religious “cult” (let’s call it what it is) as the source and rightful owner of that knowledge.