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Was the book of Genesis inspired by the sumerian tablets that were found?
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The sumerian tablets outdate the book of genesis from the dead sea scrolls if i'm not mistaken, and the story of creation from the sumerian tablet is REMARKABLY and eerily similar to the story of creation in Genesis. Does anyone have any scientific evidence that this is not the case? Surely if the book of genesis was more or less copied from the idea of the sumerians, it would change the way we see the book of genesis and creation as a whole. Please someone answer this for me, i can't find anything online.
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I am not a scholar on Sumerian account however; it would not change my perspective at all. The creation story would be recorded by different cultures of course.
Just like WW2. Many nations will tell the story and they will tell their own version of the story. Whether one writes it before the other, does not give it superior credibility.
The account of Genesis was written by Moses, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and therefore, it may be the similarly same story, but it is God's version of the events that took place as HE chose to reveal that truth to mankind.
Hope that helps.
Peace in Christ
The idea that the Book of Genesis is "copied" from the Sumerian creation account is a popular one, but it's definitely a drastic overstatement of the similarities between the two. The primary comparison between them is that the order of creation is similar, and the creation in humanity is also vaguely similar. Other than that, they're drastically different.
The Babylonian account of creation involves a struggle between several different gods and goddesses, and was meant to promote the superiority of the Babylonian god, Marduk. In the story, for example, the sky and the ground are created when Marduk tears a goddess in half after a battle.
Humans are created in the Babylonian account from clay, but that's the only real similarity. Mesoamerican mythology is closer to the Book of Genesis in this regard, with the gods creating humanity from sacrificial bones in a paradise called Tamoanchan (which, interestingly enough, is represented by a symbol featuring a tree, flowering and pouring out blood).
It's important to remember that many stories from around the world are similar to the Biblical account of Genesis. For example, many cultures have stories about a fall from grace after an initial perfect creation, almost every civilization on Earth has a story about a great flood, and many civilizations have stories about a tower being built in an attempt by people to reach up to Heaven. The fact that so many civilizations in some many different parts of the world tell such similar stories should give skeptics pause.
today i had to log on to find where i saw the translation for the sumerian tablets and found this thread, and found your question. the sumerian tablets are found to be the first known writing in history. and the story of creation that was told was written pre anything else in life as we know it. and then comes along the bible thousands of years later... but lets stop for a second. we were raised with the rules of life and one of those said." if we dont believe in GOD. were going to hell. well. if i came across you in a desert and we were in times of back then. and i started a fire for you... would you consider me a GOD ? so my question is ... who GOD is. i dont know. he's like the wind. i havent seen him,(sorta like aliens) i havent seen them. but i believe in them. IF the sumerian tablets were created before the creation of man when the bible was made. then have fun starting an arguement with the rest of the world except the 50 or more people like you and me that have been asking your same question... since i read the sumerian tablets that were translated. my life hasnt been the same . if you know in your heart what you think is the truth and you find some proof to back it up. stick with it. im sure this response will stir a few cups of coffee . well isitpeaceful at yahoo
anyone with a computer can research these facts on their own and come to their own conclusions. Anyone with common sense can objectively examine the facts and determine that "we're not in Kansas anymore". By exploring these facts, we change everything we've ever believed in. We start to question our faith. We have to because what we've been taught isn't what really happened. Most lies are based in truth at some point. Often, good intentions turn sour. Now, add thousands of years into the mix and you'll find an alarming trend of using Religion to control. Fearing God (yet God is good, right? He cares about us and our well-being, right?) and tossing around the Devil has kept Religious leaders in power and often carved the way for Kings to reach a status of divinity among his subjects.
The fact is, if you research you'll find that the events of the Bible just don't add up with the time these events are said to have occurred.
Now, consider this. What "if" the events of the Bible are more-or-less true. What "if" the events in the Old and New Testaments really did happen pretty much along the lines we're told they did but... much earlier!
In the Sumerian Tablets, the story of Creation and the Garden of Eden are shared. The Great Flood is also a favorite written in the tablets. These stories aren't changed all that much when represented in the Bible - however, they are manipulated. The Sumerian Tablets tell of the Anunnaki; a race of beings from Nibiru who created Humans by taking the indigenous beings on Earth and splicing their own DNA with that of the Aliens. The Anunnaki were greatly advanced beings and created the great monuments found on the Earth; Moon; Mars and other solid planets/moons within our corner of the Universe.
The purpose for creating Humans is also written in the Tablets. Humans were created to be servants of the gods. Many would have called the early humans, slaves. We were used to mine precious minerals such as gold. Still to this day, gold is considered a highly sought after mineral. Researching the Sumerian tablets will also tell you reasons for this unique status of gold.
As spiritual people, we need to have a faith system. We rely upon our faith to help us through tough times. We pray to God to help us. What if the being that is helping us isn't the God we're praying to but rather, a galactic consciousness intervening on our behalf? What if it is simply coincidence? Again, the theories can abound but the facts can not so easily be dismissed by those who are enlightened and want to know more.
I must not understand what you mean by this but are you denying the Bible? When you add up the ages according to the Bible with Adam, Abraham, Moses, all the way down to Jesus, you would see how long the world has lasted which is about 6000 years. Probably 6011. I believe this because I believe the Bible. And the Bible has never mentioned of Aliens and says that God is there not a "galactic Counsciousness". Who was Jesus then? The galactic Counsciousness Alien friend? And Jesus didnt ascend into Heaven but rather was beamed up to safety? Sorry but I dont believe this. The Bible says Jesus is God's only Begotten Son, that God is our loving Holy Creator, and that when we pray we talk to Him. Sorry but I believe the Bible.
My admittedly limited reading of the Sumarian text shows a typically epic pagan creation myth. The Genesis account is notable as a very brief, businesslike record of important physical events, with a minimum of drama, conflict and storytelling excess. An ancient bard could have probably made a decent living telling the Sumarian creation story, but would have starved to death on the Genesis record.