The Sumerian and Biblical Floods: Different or the Same?
The Sumerian and Biblical Floods: Different or the Same?
“And then, a number of centuries later, God said, ‘No, no. Everything is crap; I will send a flood down. I will send a flood down across the world, because it’s all crap.’ He decided to do the etch-a-sketch end of the world, I think.” (Izzard) And that, no matter which story of this particular flood story you look at, seems to be the main objective, to, like a etch-a-sketch, start all over with a clean slate. While there are several differences in how the story is told, there are quite a few similarities, enough to make you consider that there is some truth to this story, no matter which version you accept. And the fact of the matter is that, scientifically, there was flooding in these areas due to natural disasters. Whether or not a god or gods were the reason for these natural disasters is a matter of your faith and opinion.
The flood, in both stories, is sent to the earth in anger; however the Sumerian version has origins in the grim experiences dealing with the overflowing of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Before science and the discovery of ‘natural disasters’ you find that many past civilizations blame their god or gods for any good or bad fortunes. My crops didn’t grow, because I did not worship or angered a god. Or my family was blessed because I pleased this god. So the anger of the gods is not given a direct reason just that the gods were angered. In fact a god was responsible for almost everything that occurred in these cultures. Yet in the biblical version, this story is told from the side of God, whom is disappointed in the misbehaviors, ignorance, and sins of his people. Not to say that this culture didn’t blame God for their misfortune, or to praise him when good fortune struck. This version of the flood story just merely points out a reflection of his side of the story.
Another similarity between the two versions is in the fact that the gods or God choose one
“And then, a number of centuries later, God said, ‘No, no. Everything is crap; I will send a flood down. I will send a flood down across the world, because it’s all crap.’ He decided to do the etch-a-sketch end of the world, I think.” (Izzard) And that, no matter which story of this particular flood story you look at, seems to be the main objective, to, like a etch-a-sketch, start all over with a clean slate. While there are several differences in how the story is told, there are quite a few similarities, enough to make you consider that there is some truth to this story, no matter which version you accept. And the fact of the matter is that, scientifically, there was flooding in these areas due to natural disasters. Whether or not a god or gods were the reason for these natural disasters is a matter of your faith and opinion.
The flood, in both stories, is sent to the earth in anger; however the Sumerian version has origins in the grim experiences dealing with the overflowing of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Before science and the discovery of ‘natural disasters’ you find that many past civilizations blame their god or gods for any good or bad fortunes. My crops didn’t grow, because I did not worship or angered a god. Or my family was blessed because I pleased this god. So the anger of the gods is not given a direct reason just that the gods were angered. In fact a god was responsible for almost everything that occurred in these cultures. Yet in the biblical version, this story is told from the side of God, whom is disappointed in the misbehaviors, ignorance, and sins of his people. Not to say that this culture didn’t blame God for their misfortune, or to praise him when good fortune struck. This version of the flood story just merely points out a reflection of his side of the story.
Another similarity between the two versions is in the fact that the gods or God choose one
Cited: Fairchilds, Mary. "Noah 's Ark and the Flood - Bible Story Summary." About.com. 29 August 2010 . "Flood Geology." 23 Aug. 2010. Wikipedia. 29 Aug. 2010 . Izzard, Eddie. "Glorious." 1997. "Noah 's Ark." 30 Aug. 2010. Wikipedia. 30 Aug. 2010 . Noss, David S., and Blake R. Grangaard. A History of the World 's Religions. 12th Edition. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc., 2008. "Sumerian Creation Myth." 18 Aug. 2010. Wikipedia. 29 Aug. 2010 . "Sumerian Myth." Grand Valley State University Website. 29 Aug. 2010 .