Compare and contrast judaism and mesopotamian religions?

Answer 1

I think basically that mesopotamain didnt like them beacause they really hate eachother they dont like each othe.

Answer:

Judaism differed from Mesopotamian and other ancient religions in the following ways:

1) It was the only religion in which God spoke to the entire assembled nation (Exodus ch.19) of over two million people.

2) It made a complete break from the surrounding idolatry. Their monotheism (belief in One God) set the Jews apart because Mesopotamia and other ancient nations did not share it. We've heard (for example) of the Greek mythology and Roman mythology. What not everyone is aware of is that idolatry tended to go hand in hand with cruel, licentious and excessive behavior, since the caprices which were narrated concerning the idols were adopted as an excuse to imitate those types of behavior.

Compare that to God, who reveals His attributes in the Torah as wise, kind, holy, and pure. God is One, so the command to imitate His attributes (Deuteronomy 8:6) was (and is) a straightforward matter once one is even minimally familiar with the Torah.

Accordingly, Judaism was:

3) The only ancient religion in which a large percentage of its adherents were literate and scholars.

4) It was the only religion in which the people were ruled by God, with no need for a king, for several centuries (see Judges 8:23 and 1 Samuel 8:4-7).

5) The concept of morality was also the work of the Hebrews' religion, including the dignity and value of a person. It is the responsibility of the community to support the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the stranger passing through.

6) Under the law of Judaism, everyone had recourse to the courts. A child, widow, wife, etc., could initiate legal action against any citizen to redress perpetrated harm. Compare this to those societies in which (at most) only mature, land-owning males had rights.

7) Government is accountable to a higher authority. In other ancient societies, the monarch was all-powerful. Among the Israelites, however, the king was under the constant scrutiny of the Divinely-informed prophets, who didn't hesitate to castigate him publicly for any misstep in the sight of God. And, other than for the crime of rebellion, the king couldn't punish any citizen by his own decision. He was obligated by the Torah-procedures like everyone else.

8) A robber repays double to his victim, or works it off. Unlike in many other ancient societies, in Judaism debtors are not imprisoned or harmed. They are made to sell property and/or work to repay what they owe. Compare this to the Roman practice by which anyone could accuse a man of owing them money and the debtor could be killed.

It is important to note that every one of the above existed in Judaism thousands of years earlier than in other nations. Here's just one example: Aristotle, who was among the greatest of the Greeks, and Seneca, the famous Roman, both write that killing one's young babies is perfectly acceptable.

Answer 2

Judaism is a monotheistic religion; Mesopotamians were polytheistic. This means Jews believed in only one god; Mesopotamians believed in many. Also, Jews were much more disciplined because of their religion.

Answer 3

Since the Hebrews and non-Hebrews lived side by side in Mesopotamia, there may have been some borrowing in language or other minor matters. But in terms of fundamental beliefs, the two are quite different.Judaism, according to tradition, has always been monotheistic. Even at the height of the unfortunate spread of idolatry among the less-loyal Ten Tribes, there were thousands who remained loyal to God (1 Kings 19:18).

(See: Judaism and monotheism)

Other Mesopotamians, however, believed in a number of deities, which sometimes led to aberrations in people's behavior (See: Cruelties of the polytheists). This was among the reasons why Abraham the Hebrew founded ethical monotheism.

It may be noted that there are certain comparative similarities that can be found among the two ancient populations (Hebrews and non-Hebrews). According to tradition, this did not stem from borrowing, but rather from the existence of an even older tradition; the worldwide one stemming from Noah. This is, for example, why (almost all) people over the entire world believed in the existence of the soul, the afterlife, the significance of the number seven, the institution of marriage, the abhorrence of cannibalism, etc.

Answer 4

I honestly dont know so umm just go on Google WAIT! i got an answer! because they all suck and mesopo tamian ppl rock