That the ritualistic worship of Ball had to do with all types of Golden and Brown showers as offerings to Baal...they were a very kinky bunch..

Similar customs continue to this very day in certain parts of Alaska. Not all of them are remote, as you might think. I have been told (by VERY reliable sources) that once you get past the hair and the smell~~muktuk~~you've got it licked. I cannot conform or deny, nor do I intend to do so. Anyone ready to TOFTT?

women have no rights.

The Jewish people were geographically right in the middle of these cultures.  I think much of the religion could be understood as a back-lash against it. And by extention, that's true of Christianity and Islam as well.  Look at the books of the prophets and what they say about prostitution.  It's pretty clear that politics became religion there.

I actually think the modern independent tryster to be the social successor of those ancient priestesses.  

Which makes me a religious atheist.  

Ritualistic Prostitution, golden & brown showers, wanton welcome wagons.

This is spiritualism I could get behind.

check out the temple dieties sculptures in India, I think sex was a part of Hindu religion back 1000 years or so ago.  I hear the sexy temple dancers used to have sex with the priests as part of the religious ceremonies. In my mind I see the oiled dancers with their hand bent dancing around the priests (don't know what the actual reality is though).