Thursday April 4, 2002
Religions of the Middle East
Handouts
Reading Assignment
Syllabus for those who did not receive one on Tuesday.
Papers were picked up from Tuesday's (4/1) assignment.

West/East differences.
West - God is trancendant - separate from the universe He created.
God is spiritual but created the world.
Monotheism -one- (one god)

East- God is part of the Universe - it emanates from God.
God is the Universe (all)Pantheism Everything is God. "God is all and all is God"

Genesis 1 and 2
Genesis 1 - Step by step - methodical - chronological
Overviews:
Creation of Heavens and earth
Sea, sky, land, water, then sun, moon, stars (meant to mark off days)Plants and animals then man and woman.Man and woman created at same time -
different word for God - Elohim-
God - us-
1. God and heavenly court (angels)
2. Plurality or majesty

Genesis 2
More concrete, specific, less abstract, more personal
Anthropomorphic - humanlike- Portrayal of God ... Anthro = man
God creates Adam to tend Garden. Animals were created as possible companions for Adam. God makes different animals shows them to Adam to name. then God creates Eve from Adams rib.
Yahweh = the LORD Hebrew has no vowels so actually spelled YHWH
Greek calls God iaouai
Professor Borrowdale will use Yahweh when reading words - the LORD -
special sacred name of God Yahweh = He who truly is - I AM
Creation story ... forbidden fruit Medieval art has forbidden fruit as a pomegranet or pear now it is the apple.

Facets of life explained by Genesis 3
After Eve and Adam ate the forbidden fruit.
Death
Labor to the woman during childbirth
Why farming is difficult why snakes slither
Why people fear or hate snakes
Patriarchy (ruled by men)
Modesty (God made them clothes from skins)
Sin