The Atrahasis and Genesis: Two Creation Stories

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Genesis in the modern world is a highly criticised text, and frequently the most misunderstood, most people do not realise that it is composed of three separate books with two creation stories if we employ source division. (J.ROGERSON P63). Often these two texts are interpolated rendering our own distorted views. In there simplest form they tell a story of the creation of the world and the earliest history of humanity, they then go on to tell the destruction of the world from a flood then the story of Jacob and his ancestors who came to be named Israel. Modern archaeology has given us a different perspective of Genesis, for many science has proved it wrong, especially creation, John Calvin a great systematic protestant thinker said "Gen 1 did not reflect physics and astronomy. The account was solely for the benefit of ancient Hebrew observers whom had no understanding of science". This point was overlooked (j.rogerson),a century ago our understanding of Genesis was very different we did not have the knowledge concerning ancient times as we do now. Wiseman highlights four points which brought about critical theories 1) Theories conceived in an age of ignorance towards earlier civilisations. 2) Literary assumptions made when they knew nothing of earlier systematic writings. 3) Many scholars assumed the oral tradition was the only form of communication during the days of the Patriarchs. 4) Saturated speculative theories concerning "myth and legend" generally now abandoned but not ignored. Scientific discoveries such as Darwin’s theory of natural selection 1859-70 and geology in the 1820’s have challenged earlier perceptions of the creation accounts. A biblical reconstruction of chronology was made of genesis concluding a figure... ... middle of paper ... ...on of covenanting shaping reality. The second creation story is complementing the first is concerning the relationships of humans to God and creation. Psalm 100 All you lands, acclaim the Lord! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God; he created us and we are his people, the sheep of his fold. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his love lasts forever and his faithfulness through all generations. Works Cited Genesis 1-11, J.Rogerson Genesis, Robert Alter Genesis 12-50 R.W.L. Moberly, Genesis, Walter Bruggemann New Discoveries in Babylonia About Genesis, P.J. Wisemann Catholic Dictionary, Addis & Arnolds Revised by Mgr. P.E. Hallett,?????? The Oxford Bible Commentary, Edited by J Barton/John Muddiman, 2001, Oxford

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