Genesis 1:10, Genesis vs. the Babylonians
And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
//I’m sure I’ve written about this before, comparing chapter 1 of the Bible to the Babylonian creation myth. In both, god(s) bring order and form to chaos, shaping the world we live in. But the Enuma elish, the Babylonian version, predates the Hebrew version by a millennium or so. It’s dated to 1500-1900 BCE.
The Enuma elish is polytheistic. In its story, one god (Marduk) rips another (Tiamat) apart and from her corpse he fashions the earth and skies. He then kills her husband and uses his blood to create humankind as slaves to the gods. The creation is hardly considered friendly, and the gods are to be feared.
Contrast this with the story in Genesis, in which the Hebrew supreme being (Yahweh) creates from scratch, pausing after each day’s work to pronounce his work “good.” Many scholars see in the Genesis story a challenge to the traditional Babylonian myth, insisting on a single all-powerful being shaping a friendly, positive living environment for a creation that he loves.
I’d say religion took a step forward with the Hebrew version, wouldn’t you?
Fantasy Football, Anyone?
Put on the whole uniform of the Team, that ye may be able to stand against the blitz of oncoming linebackers. Don the hip pads of truth, the shoulder pads of righteousness, the cleats of preparation. Don’t forget the facemask of faith and the helmet of salvation. Then clutch the pigskin with much Spirit, for that is what the Play Book of your Coach in Heaven demands.The River of Life
Twice before Lee Harmon has written about Christian topics, once on the gospel of John and once on the book of Revelation. But the question people keep asking him is this: As a liberal Christian, why do you care so much about the Bible? Others wonder whether he is truly a Christian at all.
The Way It Happened
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| Revelation: A love story gone awry. | The Gospel: A love story set aright. |
What really happened 2,000 years ago? How did a persecuted minority of end-time believers known as Christians, with their dreams of Armageddon and a conquering Messiah named Jesus, evolve into the largest religion in the world? Author Lee Harmon explores the period in which the New Testament was written in his books about John's Gospel and Revelation.
(Bloggers: you may be eligible for a free review copy! Just contact us.)
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The God Show
Lee Harmon interviewed on The God Show about the History Channel's miniseries The Bible and Lee's latest book, John's Gospel: The Way It Happened.
About Lee
Hello! I'm an author, historical Jesus scholar, book reviewer, and liberal Christian, which means I appreciate and attempt to exercise the humanitarian teachings of Jesus without getting hung up on any particular supernatural or religious beliefs.
The Bible is a magnificent book that has inspired and spiritually fed generations for thousands of years, and each new century seems to bring a deeper understanding of life’s purpose. This is true of not only Christianity; through the years, our age-old religions are slowly transforming from superstitious rituals into humanitarian philosophies. In short, we are growing up, and I am thrilled to be riding the wave.
I avidly read all thought-provoking religion titles. New authors: I'd love to read and review your book!
Contact me here.
About Leslie
Hi! While Lee writes the articles and reviews the books, I edit, organize, and maintain the blog. The views expressed here are Lee's but I'm his biggest supporter! :-)
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