29 Questions
What is the focus of cosmic ontology?
The role and purpose in an ordered system
What characterizes something that does not exist in ancient Egyptian and Babylonian texts?
It is nameless
What is the state described by the Hebrew word tohu wabohu in Genesis 1:2?
The non-ordered state
What is the primary concern of ancient accounts of cosmic origins?
The origins of order in the cosmos
What is the meaning of 'ontology' in philosophical terms?
What it means for something to exist
What is the significance of naming in ancient Egyptian and Babylonian texts?
It is a process that gives existence to something
What is the primary focus of the ancient gods in the Near Eastern cosmology?
Their own needs and desires
According to the ancient world, what was the primary role of the gods in cosmic origins?
To act as agents of causation
What is a key distinction between the gods of the ancient Near East and the God of the Hebrew Bible?
The God of the Hebrew Bible was more concerned with humanity
In the Hebrew cosmology, what is the initial state of the universe?
A state of chaos with no order
How did the gods of the ancient Near East tend to view their roles in creation?
As direct agents of causation
What was the primary means of establishing order in the ancient world?
Through the decree of an authority figure
What is the primary force of life in Akkadian and Sumerian sources?
The decree of the gods
What is the significance of the temple in ancient cosmologies?
It was the seat of divine authority
What is a common feature of cosmologies in the Ancient Near East?
The use of decrees to establish order
What is the emphasis of the Israelites' concept of God?
A singular, omnipotent God who imposes order on chaos
What is a distinguishing feature of Israelite thinking in cosmology?
The use of conflict to explain creation
What is the role of the temple in cosmologies like Enki and World Order and Enuma Elish?
The establishment of a temple from which the god can assume rule over the cosmos
What is a common feature of Egyptian mythology?
Daily conflict between the sun and the chaos creature, Apophis
What is the name of the Akkadian cosmology text that tells of the battle between Marduk and Tiamat?
Enuma Elish
What is the contrast between the Israelites' creation narrative and certain ANE myths?
The absence of cosmic conflict
What is the result of the battle between Marduk and Tiamat in the Enuma Elish?
The reorganization of the cosmos under the rule of Marduk
What is the significance of cosmologies in ancient Near Eastern thought?
They demonstrate the complexity and richness of ancient Near Eastern thought
What is the significance of understanding ancient cosmological narratives within their cultural and theological contexts?
It underscores the importance of understanding these texts within their broader cultural and theological contexts
What were the three main components of the cosmos in ancient cosmologies?
Heaven, earth, and the seas
What was the purpose of the gods establishing boundaries for the sea?
To restrain the waters above and below
What was the ancient understanding of the world's geography?
A single continent surrounded by cosmic waters
What was a common feature of ancient cosmologies regarding the sky?
It was thought to be solid
What is the relationship between Genesis and ancient cosmologies?
Genesis reflects many of the common perspectives of the ancient world
Explore ancient cosmology, delving into the philosophical concepts of ontology and the study of the cosmos. Learn about the origins and nature of the cosmos and how cultures understand existence.
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