The Biblical story is partly based on the Enuma Elish or "Seven Tablets of Creation", which is part of the ancient Babylonian mythology. The Torah was not written down until the Babylonian exile, when ancient Jews were exposed to the diverse pagan mythologies of the Babylonian empire. At this time they adopted stories about creation, Adam and Eve, the Flood and other stories which were incorporated into the Jewish religion. Noah is based on the Sumerian mythological hero named Utnapishtim, who was also known as Ziusudra or Atrahasis.
It is unlikely that all these stories come from a "common origin". They were adopted at the time the Jews were in Babylon and were rapidly losing their own language and culture. We have no evidence to suggest what the Jewish religion was like "before" the Babylonian exile as all copies of the Torah post-date that time period.
If this is the case, and science has also discredited the literal interpretations of Genesis, why do people still accept it?
2007-01-15 20:33:09 · 14 answers · asked by darth_maul_8065 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
First - the answer to your 'why' - is quite simple...
Nearly all Christians are unaware of creation myths from other, older religions.
Should the Christian discover those other myths - he/ she would still have the following (impossible) hurdle to overcome...
In the Christian/ Jewish universe, all truth revolves around their ‘revealed Word’, the Bible.
And you already know of the 'fundamental', literal interpretation of Genesis, as taught by theology, so I need not elaborate on that.
Here's some other information I thought I could share...
The Jewish Kabbalist mystics and Rabbis have, according to tradition, found 77 interpretations to the Tanakh (Old Testament) - 77 for each Hebrew word in it!
On the bright side, not all Christians translate Genesis in the same literal way. For example, some Christians are big fans of dinosaurs. But alas, Darwin still remains demonized.
Yes, your familiarity with Babylonian/ Sumerian creation myths is a breath of fresh air. The Hindu Upanishads and the Egyptian Book of the Dead are eye-openers too:
‘In a mythical Egyptian garden, the Goddess Isis desires to know the secret name of God, so she devises to create a magical snake (made out of the god's fluid) to help her fulfill her quest.’
The Book of the Dead abounds with many other ideas that the Western world takes for granted - such as ideas of the heart and soul; of resurrection; and that of a supreme God of gods!
(Note: I did not come here to proclaim 'there can only be one.' I take an interest in all of the creation myths I had mentioned. Peace.)
2007-01-15 20:54:16 · answer #1 · answered by Yahoo user 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Most modern scholars have rejected the theory that the Genesis creation account was based on the Enuma Elish. See, for example, The Babylonian Genesis by Alexander Heidel. If you compare the two accounts, they are very different. The Enuma Elish describes a cosmic battle in which Marduk defeats Tiamat, using her body to create the earth, and the blood of her lover Kingu to create human beings. That is a far cry from the six-day account in Genesis!
The Babylonian Adapu is also quite different from the Genesis account. Adapu was a 'wild man' whom the gods tamed and placed in Eridu following the rebellion of the Annunaki.
But I agree with you that Noah is from the same source as Utnapishtim. But far from discrediting the Genesis account, the Epic of Gilgamesh lends credence to the theory that Noah was based on a local, historical flood that occured around 2500 BC. Considering the vast gap between the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Babylonian Captivity, as well as the substantial differences between the two accounts, it seems unlikely that the Jewish captives adopted it during the captivity.
2007-01-15 20:54:32 · answer #2 · answered by NONAME 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i believe the bible is a story. i think it was given to man by God and then it kinda got mixed up in a few parts (like the old game telephone). and i think many stories in the bible are not supposed to be the literal explanation of what happened. some are metaphors and loose explanations. for example, was 7 days really 7 days? (in the story of creation). i think that's a metaphor and that it represented a long time... or a short time, either way, there was only God and it states that a second could be 1000 years. i think the bible and science go hand in hand. if i believe one, i'm inclined to believe the other. i can even accept the big bang theory... but what set it off? my answer can only be: God.
2016-03-28 23:51:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Incorrect; fragments of Deuteronomy have been found which date to well before the exile. The prophets make numerous references that are obvious allusions to the Torah. The "Noah" flood story is ubiquitous to all cultures, and, finally, since the Hebrews were a highly literate people there is no strong reason to believe that other peoples didn't borrow from them, apart from a bias shaped by higher criticism.
2007-01-15 20:41:41 · answer #4 · answered by Garius 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the point the ancient Jews were trying to make was. When all else fails, simply Make up your own religion. Its the religious version of "If you cant beat 'em, toss the board into the air and walk of with the shits, and make play somewhere else". But still keep some things similar
Its a good lesson to learn. We are free to just make it up as we go, just like them. We should give the people that start such things a round of applause for showing us that its just make believe. Even though the followers find that extremely difficult to accept.
2007-01-15 20:37:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
It is not the same and is similar. These myths as you call them are found in every culture and religion in the world. The one you denounce is based on the Hebrew account. By the way carbon dating has proven itseld inaccurate for the record of Gilgamesh..You forget that Jews did live in Babylonia and most civilized societies were in fact multi cultural and diverse.
If you have a theory that is worth it make yourself rich and PROVE that Creation did not occur for a $250,000.00 REWARD! Go to http://www.raycomfort.com Link to Dr Hovind. No further questions will be asked and You will be Rich!
2007-01-15 21:59:52 · answer #6 · answered by Sassy 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Just because the story of creation was written down after these mythologies you name, doesn't mean it didn't come first.
The Hebrews have a long history of oral traditions, so they might have influenced other cultures with their oral stories before they wrote them down.
A better question would be, why DON'T you believe? What need do you have for God not to exist? Are you trying to get away with something, or do just want to be rid of the guilt in your heart?
2007-01-15 20:38:24 · answer #7 · answered by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
PURE BIBLE IS JESUS GENEALOGY AND 2007 CALENDAR TIME
~~~~ Gen.1:1,2 All Exist. 1:3-25 Earth prepared. Space Job 38:30-32;
0130 Adam Gen.5:3
0105 Shem Gen.5:6
0090 Enos Gen.5:9
0070 Cainan Gen.5:12
0065 Mahalaleel Gen.5:15
0162 Jared Gen.5:18
0065 Enoch Gen.5:21
0187 Methusalen Gen.5:25
0182 Lamech Gen.5:28; 1056 Noah born.
0600 age of Noah, Flood Gen.7:6; 1656 flood year at 1656 after Adam.
0000 Noah 350 years Gen.9:28,29; Shem 502 years Gen.11:10,11,
0222 Gen.11:10,11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22,24 is Terah at, 222 years.
0205 427 Gen.11:32 [ 205 dies ]; Gen.12:4; Abraham age 75. Matt.1:1-17;
0430 857 Exo.7,7; 12:40,41; Gal.3:16-18 [ Abraham & 430 to law ];
0040 897 Num.33:38,39 [ Deut.34:7 Aaron & Moses die ];
0000 898th after flood. Josh.5:6,10,12; 14th day of New Year.
0000 Judges 11:26; 300 & 898 after flood, is 1198. 1212 BC
0000 Acts 13:20 450 & 857 is 1307 after flood. 1103 BC
0000 1Ki.2:10,11 David [ 1037 BC ]. Ruth 4:18-22; 1Chr.3:1-17;
0480 1Ki.6:1; Promised Land 897 to 1377 after flood. 1033 BC
0036 1Ki.11:42 Solomon dies 1413 after flood. 997BC
3069 & 997 & 2007 is 6073 after Adam as LOST to SAVED.
0000 Rev.20:6; 1000 year reign of Jesus. 1000 is 7072 years accounted for.
THIS LINE OF LUMP SUM YEARS, THE KING LINE OR PRIEST LINE IS SAME TIME.
THIS IS NOT THE AGE OF THE EARTH.
2007-01-15 20:39:11 · answer #8 · answered by jeni 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
because they are too lazy to think for themselves - they just beleive what they are told.
And then they have the gall to tell us that we (non beleivers) are wrong. Without giving us any proof.
"you gotta have faith"...
Yeah right.
2007-01-15 23:26:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Why do people believe anything?
2007-01-15 20:38:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋