Genesis

The Bible is noteworthy, in part, because it has arguably influenced more literature than any other single work. This includes everything from classics like Beowulf and the Canterbury Tales to modern fantasy such as the Chronicles of Narnia. However, what I find interesting is not comparing the Bible to later works, but to stories that precede it or are otherwise separated from it.

            The Epic of Gilgamesh predates the Bible, and it includes a story of a flood created by a deity meant to cleanse the Earth of the human civilization. What can be inferred from this? Was Noah’s story adapted from the Epic of Gilgamesh? Are these two historical documents indicating an actual flood occurred? Does this speak to the fear of water the river valley civilizations of the time had? Knowing that other cultures have stories of floods, I infer that the people who populated the river valley civilizations throughout history viewed them as destructive and unpredictable, which made stories of apocalyptic deluges very believable.

            The creation story in Genesis is very similar to other creation stories. The Greeks believed that after a man was created he was given a woman as companion. Furthermore, she ruined the perfect home they had been given by the gods when she was tempted to disobey the gods, opening Pandora’s Box against their explicit instructions. In the Iroquois’s creation myth, there was a civilization of people who lived in the sky where everyone was happy and a tree that gave them all light. A woman living on this island in the sky became pregnant with twins, which infuriated her husband. He ripped up the tree that gave them light, and the woman, curious, peered down the hole where the tree used to be. She was then pushed down it, falling to Earth, where she gave birth to a good twin and a bad twin.

The consistency with which women caused humans to lose their position in a perfect society is very telling as to who wrote the stories. I infer from association with trees and light and knowledge that trees were known for their age in previous civilizations, and associated their age with wisdom. The story of the two brothers fighting reminds me of Cain and Abel. I wonder why seeking knowledge and being curious was seen as a dangerous character trait.
            Just like viewing the Bible alone, viewing many creation stories at once can be interpreted spiritually. Some believe that all religions have some truth to them, and use the similarities between religions that were never in contact with one another as evidence to support the idea that they creators of these stories were divinely inspired. Personally, I try to look for insight into human nature. I think we all want to belong to something, and we like blaming others for not having what we want. I think we fear what we don’t understand, and want to makes sense of tragedies.
            In a world where religions are known for the problems they cause, reading Genesis and thinking about why people may have liked these teachings was a good reminder for me. I forget that there is a reason why religions were created. People needed something to believe in when surrounded by uncertainty. I can’t say whether or not religion has been a positive influence the world, but it seems that people all across the world have been drawn to similar beliefs, and I like to think it has served them well, even if I can’t find any comfort in it myself.