[Solved] What is relationship between deity and humanity in Genesis and Enuma Elish?

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[Solved] What is relationship between deity and humanity in Genesis and Enuma Elish?

Question 2: What is relationship between deity and humanity in Genesis and Enuma Elish?

Religion has taken center stage in the lives of the human being since time memorial. In the life of the human race, religion is considered as the guide to it and the way of life. Countless people have taken to religion for solace and to find better ways of living. Religious believers consider that through religion, they can live satisfactory lives. The main reason for this belief is that close relation to religion and holding dear to what the religion says, pleases the God of the religion. In return, the God will provide for him or her in abundance. However, doing the opposite one will have a horrible life as curses will follow the person as the God will be unhappy due to the person’s ways.

The religions, to be into consideration in this study are two, Christianity and Enuma Elish. Christians do believe in one God, who single-handedly created the heaven and the earths in seven days. He then gave life to humanity by creating man out of the mud. Woman was born from the flesh of man with one rib from the man, and they were put in the Garden of Eden. The two beings, Adam, and Eve were then instructed to take care of the garden and bear children. As for Enuma Elish, the religion has many gods. The first god being Apsu, the fresh water god and Tiamat the salt-water god, the bore children. The children are considered as gods. However, the children are a disgrace to Apsu for their ill actions, and he recommends to his wife for their death that the woman significantly refuses.

Deity, which is the existence of the supernatural being believed in a religion is entirely synonymous in both the Bible and Enuma Elish. Deity is seen in the Bible by the existence of God, who created the heaven and the earth. He then created human beings, Adams, and Eve and bestowed upon them the responsibility of taking care of the land and having children. Deity in the Bible is also seen during the times of Jesus Christ as he is born from the Virgin Mary and lives amongst men. Later on, Jesus is crucified for the sins of human beings. He then resurrects and visits his disciples in Jerusalem. He lives behind a helper that is the Holy Spirit till he comes again as the Messiah. Evidently, there is one God but in three different forms. The biblical God takes the form of God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit all of whom have close ties to humanity.

From the Bible, we see that God loved the human race and involved himself in the day-to-day activities of people. He sends Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden out of rage for their sin. He tests Abraham by ordering him to give his son Isaac an offering to God and later blesses him and his decedents. Jesus Christ mingles amongst other human beings. He teaches others about the Bible and performs miracles. His relation to human beings is seen as very close especially during the times that he had the twelve disciples who followed him throughout to his death. Jesus Christ was known to be very fond of human beings. He even ate with the tax collector and mingled with a protest, something that was greatly detest then. However, he saw not the need for one to be sidelined in the society and emphasized that no man should look down upon the other, as everyone is a sinner. Despite the healthy interactions, he once was angry at mankind. He was angry at people selling goods in the temple as though it was a marketplace. He took it upon himself to turn tables and coursed chaos at the vicinity. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, roams amongst humanity after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is a helper and takes care of mankind till now. Until now, he offers guidance to mankind in a spiritual way.

As for Enuma Elish, there seems to be little interaction between the gods and humanity. Reason for his is that the former gods Apsu and Tiamat, husband and wife, the gods that created the heavens and the earth bore children who acted as their servants. Apsu and Tiamat had many children, all gods of different forms, and the children took children with their wives, Therefore, the interaction between the gods and humanity was through marriage of their children to created human beings and the children who came thereafter. In Enuma Elish, it can be seen that the relationship between deity and human beings was rather on a rough patch for starters. The relationship went rough when Apsu felt that what his sons were engaging in was pure evil. He was distraught by their actions and recommended to his wife Tiamat for the killing of their children. She convinced Apsu not to. However, upon the children hearing of the plot, once put a spell on him to take slumber as Mummu was killed in the progress. Later, Tiamat elevated her children but bestowed upon her second husband Kingu the honor of being their leader. Her ploy was taken offensively by her children and Anshar plot to kill her. Evidently, the relationship between the deity and human beings started off on a rough patch before things become peaceful later on.

In conclusion, it is evident that the relationship between deity and human beings in both the Bible and Enuma Elish has had ups and downs. The ups were as result of deity love toward its creation, but the downs are from the human beings ill-motives, sins and evildoings that rage the deity in both cases. However, peace is revived thereafter after the deity has punished humanity for their wrong doings.

The Critique I Received from the Fellow—Lauren:

I like the details of your thought paper.  I do agree that God does guide His children. The big difference between the two religions is one is based on works of pleasing gods and the other (Genises) requires an honesty of dependency and relationship. A lot of religions are based on works but Christianity is based on a gift of salvation and when one gets the full revelation of the cross the “works” come out of relationship and not out of fear.

When reading your paper on the relationship between Enuma Elish gods and humanity I got a little confused in how you explained the linage in the second to last paragraph. The gods Apsu and Tiamat only gave birth to other gods and grew irritated with their offspring’s, who were only gods. Humanity only was created once Tiamot and Kingu (her second husband) were killed. The flesh and blood of the fallen god was when Marduk created mankind and created material order. The relationship between humanity is not a peaceful one but rather based on works. Man is meant to serve and if the gods are not served and worshipped there are consequences.  Comparing the two is very interesting and i like your point of view.