reply to post by randyvs
The Bible is at the very least one the finest examples ancient literature in our possession.
Not by a long shot. In fact, the myths from which the Bible borrows are infinitely more enjoyable then the cold, dry, rehashing given in the Bible.
Take the creation myth for example, the Biblical version goes something like this (paraphrasing obviously):
God creates Adam from clay and breath to tend to the Garden of Eden. Adam begins naming everything he sees, but he get's lonely because he can't name
anything compatible with him. So, God makes Lilith, but Lilith won't subjugate herself before Adam, so God curses her to be a demon who steals
children forever. Then God makes Eve from Adam's rib, and she get's tricked by a snake into eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Upon discovering that Adam and Eve know modesty, God banishes them from the Garden for disobeying the commands he knew they would. The result: they
must live mortal lives. The end.
The original myth from which this story is based is Sumerian in origin, with some alterations in Babylonian recounting. The myth, concerning the god
Nuddimud and and his wife Ninmah occurs in the Land of Dilmun and goes something like this (also paraphrasing):
When the land of Dilmun had become overrun by greenery, the Anunnaki asked Nuddimud to make a servant who could tend to the lush gardens for them.
Nuddimud and his wife Ninmah set about the task. They combined clay, breath, bone, and spit to fashion the first human being. They were so impressed
with their creation that they decided to make more to accompany it during its work. Instead of simply making more, they decide to challenge each
other. Ninmah will make seven defective humans, and Nuddimud must find purpose for them in Dilmun. Then, Nuddimud can make defective humans and Ninmah
will find purpose for them.
Ninmah makes seven. One walks with a limp, one has a damaged hand, one cannot speak, and a whole variety of what would have been common handicaps for
human beings. Nuddimud then determines the perfect job for each human, so that no human being is without purpose or function in life. Ninmah then
makes her final three: the first one cannot read the cuneiform language the Sumerians used, the second cannot work the fields for a variety of reason
(no tools pretty much), and the final one is a female version of the creation.
Nuddimud takes some time to design three new humans to compliment Ninmah's final three. The first is a teacher, and helps Ninmah's first learn to read
and write (which accounts for the Sumerian school, called the
edubba). The second can work with rock, metal, wood, clay, and precious stones to
make tools (plows, axes, spears, etc) so Ninmah's second man can work the fields and raise herds, etc. The final man Nuddimud fashions is a simple,
basic human being with no specific skill set. This he calls husband and gives to the female, creating the first couple.
Finally, it is Nuddimud's turn, and he makes a single creation called an
umul; it cannot eat, speak, write, stand, walk, work, or do anything
to take care of itself. Ninmah tries for a long time to fix the creature, but finally she gives up because she cannot do it. Nuddimud then reveals the
answer to her: he gives the
umul to the man and female to raise as the first child.
Love, family, and procreation; the school system and importance of reading and writing; artisans and laborers. The Sumerian myth accounts for far more
aspects of human society than the Biblical one. The Biblical one, in fact, is a power-trip for YHVH. It is less about the creation of human beings,
and more about his ego and why you should always obey him.
There is vastly superior ancient literature available than the Bible. One just need read something other than the Bible to discover it.
~ Wandering Scribe
edit on 15/9/12 by Wandering Scribe because: (no reason given)