Paraphrase assignment

1. James Frazer says that we can tell that there are two different authors to the creation story in Genesis. He claims that you can see the distinction between there sources when reading chapter 1 and 2. In chapter one when describing the fifth and sixth day of the creation of the earth, when the author lists the animals god creates it seem that they are listed in chronological order; animals that dwell in the water and the air, terrestrial animals, then man. In this we assume man includes men and women. In the second chapter the order changes distinctly to men, animals, and women as an afterthought.

2. Frazer claims the most common features in the creation myths are that men and women are made from the earth. It seems a common them that humans were made from clay, or dust. We see that the ways in which is clay is formed by the god’s changes, but they always have humans being formed from earth. Many myths also claim that man was created in the image of God, but not all. Many also claim women came from man’s rib.

3. I think animals are involved in so many of the creation myths because they were the only other living creatures that man had an understanding of an interacted with during the early ages. These animals supplied them with food and many other materials giving them a large role in the daily life of man. Due to this it only makes sense man would give them a role in their creation myths.

4. I do think that the big bang theory, and genesis will see as fanciful as these other myths in 2000 years. As we advance in the sciences, and our technology allows us to learn more for these architectural sites, we will see that these myths or theories are no longer plausible.