What are the similarities between Babylonian and Christian creation myths?

Answer 1

Christianity has two creation myths: Genesis 1:1-2:4a and 2:4b-25. The similarities are more apparent between the Babylonian creation myth and the first Genesis creation story, which was written by the Priestly source during the Babylonian Exile.

The sequence of creation is very similar in both the Enuma Elish and Genesis chapter 1. In both cases matter existed before creation began. Both accounts begin with darkness, and there was the light of day before there were sun, moon and stars. In both cases, there was the waters above and the waters below, with a barrier (Genesis 1:7 - 'firmament') separating them. The sequence of creation is similar, and followed by rest. There were differences, in the fact that God acted alone in creation and therefore there could be no divine rivalry associated with creation, nor the need to overcome chaos monsters. The many points of similarity is considered by some to be conclusive proof that one story was derived from the other or that both were derived from a still older original. The similarities between the Babylonian Enuma Elish and the first creation story in Genesis are actually greater than the similarities between the first Genesis creation story and that starting at Genesis 2:4b, where there is already light in the world when God began to create, and the sequence of creation is very different.

In the second creation story in Genesis, God's powers are more limited and he can not make living things out of nothing, having to fashion Adam and the animals out of dirt, and Eve out of Adam's rib. Only God is mentioned as the creator, but he is not alone, as he says of Adam after he ate the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, "now the man is become like one of us" (Genesis 3:22). There were other gods (consistent with pre-Exilic polytheism) to whom God related as an equal, but they played no part in creation. The name of the Garden of Eden has been connected with Akkadian edinu, which means "provider of abundance," which would be a transparent etymology for the name of a divine garden. The Sumerian myth talks of a forbidden fruit and of a curse for eating it, and even has a woman created to heal the man's rib, from which the Genesis story of Eve is a reversal.

For a more detailed explanation of the Christian creation stories and their modern interpretations, please visit: http://christianity.answers.com/theology/the-story-of-creation