Bell Ringer 2/17Bell Ringer 2/17

• What creation stories, other than the What creation stories, other than the one we read in one we read in GenesisGenesis, are familiar , are familiar to you? Have you seen a movie to you? Have you seen a movie dealing with creation (can be Sci-Fi)? dealing with creation (can be Sci-Fi)? What are the commonalities and What are the commonalities and differences between it and the differences between it and the account in the Holy Bible?account in the Holy Bible?

Exploring ArchetypesExploring Archetypes

GenesisGenesis vs. vs. The Epic of The Epic of GilgameshGilgamesh

Questions to PonderQuestions to Ponder

• Which element of an archetypal setting Which element of an archetypal setting is in this passage from Genesis: “God is in this passage from Genesis: “God made the expanse, and it separated the made the expanse, and it separated the water which was below the expanse water which was below the expanse from the water which was above the from the water which was above the expanse”?expanse”?

• Which aspect of an archetypal setting is Which aspect of an archetypal setting is shown in the Genesis description of the shown in the Genesis description of the Garden of Eden? Garden of Eden?

More Questions…..More Questions…..

• What is the archetypal setting for What is the archetypal setting for Eve's taking and eating the fruit in Eve's taking and eating the fruit in Genesis, Chapter 3?Genesis, Chapter 3?

• Which archetypal setting is shown Which archetypal setting is shown when the Great Flood ends in when the Great Flood ends in Chapters 6–9 of Genesis?Chapters 6–9 of Genesis?

Questions to PonderQuestions to Ponder

• Which aspect of ancient Sumerian Which aspect of ancient Sumerian culture is evident in culture is evident in The Epic of The Epic of GilgameshGilgamesh??

• What is the main goal of Gilgamesh's What is the main goal of Gilgamesh's heroic quest?heroic quest?

• Gilgamesh says he has “gained Gilgamesh says he has “gained nothing” at the end of the excerpt. nothing” at the end of the excerpt. Why?Why?

Tying it all together:Tying it all together:

• What ideas and values were important to the What ideas and values were important to the ancient Sumerians? ancient Sumerians?

• What did they expect of their rulers and What did they expect of their rulers and heroes? heroes?

• How did they expect people to treat one How did they expect people to treat one another and conduct themselves in their daily another and conduct themselves in their daily lives? lives?

• How are these beliefs/expectations How are these beliefs/expectations similar/difference from those presented in the similar/difference from those presented in the Old Testament, Old Testament, GenesisGenesis??

ConclusionsConclusions

• Important beliefs to both:Important beliefs to both:– animal sacrificeanimal sacrifice– belief in one godbelief in one god– belief in many godsbelief in many gods– faith in peacefaith in peace