Essay on The Holy Bible - Dionysus and Genisis God

Dionysus and Genisis God

Every individual has his/her own view of a divine power. It appears that each different culture looks at its’ higher being in a

different way. Texts and myths are used by each culture to explain its god or gods or even goddesses. Genesis, from the

Bible, shows the many characteristics of the Christian God, as does Euripides' The Bacchae of Dionysus. The two separate

Gods are shown to illustrate very similar human characteristics; however, they differ by their godly attributes and their effect on

how women are viewed in today's society.

The Christian God, as described in Genesis, possesses some common human characteristics. The Greek God of all that

is emotional, Dionysus, is depicted in The Bacchae to have those same human emotions. Both Gods portray a very common

human emotion: need. The Genesis God wants to be the only God that the people belief in; he is needy in receiving recognition

for being the only God. Dionysus has a very similar conflict. The entire play deals with Dionysus testing the Theban women of

their sincere devotion and belief for him. While Dionysus struggles to be recognized as a true God, the Christian God is

struggling to be recognized as the only God. Both Gods possess this very human emotion that we call need; both are in

desperate search for recognition and acceptance. Another human emotion that can be found in both Gods is authority and

wrath. The Biblical God punishes Adam and Eve severely when they eat from the Tree of Forbidden Fruit. He uses his godly

authority and sends them out of Paradise. Dionysus portrays that same angry emotion; he gets angered so easily when someone

refuses to belief in him. Need and wrath are very human emotions that the Christian God and Dionysus experience.

The attributes and power that each God has is a major difference between the depiction of the God in Genesis and the

Dionysus from The Bacchae. Genesis tells of the story of how God created the earth, and how he made the animals, man and

woman. This God is shown to have the power to do anything in his will. He is the one and only true God. Dionysus does not

possess that kind of power.