Articles of Faith: Comparative Scripture #2
Hello, Friends! This is my continuation of my comparative scripture study. This week’s topic is the Creation, (though it probably should have been my subject last week :p). I used the Judeo-Christian Book of Genesis, a Hindu Creation poem (that also incorporates aspects of Buddhism) and the Muslim Koran. Again, this week I combined the various texts without noting which text belongs to which faith. I do have to note however that I removed all references to specific names in order that the text fit together as all one story. Enjoy, critique and keep waxin’!
On Creation:
Before time began there was no heaven, no earth and no space between. A vast dark ocean washed upon the shores of nothingness and licked the edges of night. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning–the first day.
And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. God called the expanse “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning! He created grass, flowers, trees and plants of all kinds. To these he gave feeling. Next he created the animals and the insects to live on the land. He made birds to fly in the air and many fish to swim in the sea. To all these creatures, he gave the senses of touch and smell. He gave them power to see, hear and move. The world was soon bristling with life and the air was filled with the sounds of [His] creation. And God saw that it was good.
Then God said,”Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” He began the creation of man from clay, and made his progeny from a quintessence of fluid. It is He that created [him] from a single person, and made his mate of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her in love.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning.
(See previous blog, Articles of Faith: Comparative Scripture #1)
The simple explanation for why to history of the Bible (both Christian and Hebrew) and Koran are similar are because they are all three take their history up till the point of their respective prophets. Therefore their creation story would be similar. It is quite easy to compare religions and take from each their similarities. It is their differences, however, that make them unique. For example the path to salvation or enlightenment are quite different for each of the faiths.
Comment by eclecticbird — July 20, 2008 @ 3:16 pm | Edit This
I also think it’s important to note that it is a little deceptive to contrast Judeo-Christian (as an entity) scripture with Islamic scripture. Islam, in fact, does not deny the Judeo-Christian religions. There is in fact, a chronological, and, according to Islam, logical, sequence to the three religions. Judaism is fundamentally the explanation for the world. The Jewish prophets misinterpreted God’s word and led his people astray. Jesus came along. The Christians were right to call him the greatest prophet, but wrong about him being the son of God. Jesus was another prophet, who did a great deal to correct the missteps of the Jews, but again led God’s people astray (largely in their worship of Jesus as if he was somehow Godly). Mohamed was the last and final prophet. Basically, the Muslim religion is undisputable because Mohamed was God’s last attempt to save mankind. If he was right, then the Muslims are right. If he was wrong, then we’re all done for anyway, as he was Man’s last chance.
But I digress. My point is that it is unlikely that you will find much difference between the scriptures in the area of mythology between the three religions. Their account of the early days is going to look the same. It is the more recent history which will vary, along with the moral values and the way that “God’s people” are supposed to live.
http://zachthinks85.blogspot.com
http://gamingtips.today.com
Comment by gamingtips — July 23, 2008 @ 2:28 am | Edit This