Its like the Bible on STEROIDS

In reading the Babylonian story on the creation of the earth, I actually started comparing it to one of those cartoons we would watch during Bible school on Sunday mornings. This story had action, betrayal and I felt like it was the Bible on STEROIDS. I liked their rendition on the creation because it was a story much like that of the Roman/Greek gods.

But looking past that, and focusing at the task at hand, the story of Enuma Elish paralleled the story of Genesis in many ways. I deduced the six generations of gods in Enuma Elish corresponded to the six days of creation in the Bible as well as the creation of the earth on the first six tablets of stone. In Enuma Elish, the last and seventh stone was used to admire the work done, much as Genesis presents the seventh day as resting. Each god created (or was turned into) something much like God in the Genesis myth did within those six days. “In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.” This is like in Enuma Elish before the earth and heaven were created and all the gods were in turmoil. Other miscellaneous similarities include the earth and sky being formed on tablet four in Enuma Elish and on day two according to Genesis. Also, the sun moon and starts being created on tablet five whereas day four in Genesis.

Although there are many similarities/parallels, there are some very fundamental differences between the two myths, first, and probably the most apparent being the whole family tree and power-mad gods and betrayal not evident in Genesis. This is probably the reason why I enjoyed this myth so much, the action was incredible and I enjoyed the betrayal and the abuse of power involved within the whole creation (at least I hope that’s what it was about, its kind of what I got out of it). And the fact that the world was created based on hate and vengeance made for some enjoyable reading. For example, God created mankind to enjoy the earth, while in Enuma Elish, mankind was put on earth enslaved so the gods could have time to relax and be at peace (again, that’s how I interpreted it).

I myself have always been a fan of evolution...

The parallels are seen through many of these creation stories for example, in the Egyptian creation myths it talked about these gods being born and then eventually becoming part of the world and earth and land of the dead. Most creation stories have some form of earth being desolate and barren. And having a form of animal or god represent some for of the physical world whether it be the sky, heaven or earth itself. The Australians had a very interesting take on the creation of man though, apparently the “Ungambikula carved heads, bodies, legs, and arms out of the bundles. They made the faces, and the hands and feet. At last the human beings were finished.” I take it that just as every culture has a different story to explain the constellations such as Ursa Major, every culture should have their own story and explanation of how man and the world came into existence.

Also, something we should never do http://www.fmylife.com/miscellaneous/5022453

Images courtesy of www.picsearch.org as well as www.images.google.com