Monday, January 30, 2012

genesis chapter 1-3

The opening verses of Genesis are extremely important. these verses can be viewed as very concrete and ambiguous. the way the earth is described as void and dark gives he reader a very concrete image of how the earth was before God created life. In Genesis it says "and the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters", I think this gives the reader a very concrete image of God looking down on earth before its creation. These first few lines are also ambiguous. I think the whole notion of God and the creation of earth is very ambiguous. For instance no one really has a concrete idea of what God looks like or a concrete image of the creation of earth. Genesis basically is stating that god said let there be light and so it appeared. i think this aspect of Genesis is very ambiguous. In addition to this everyone has their own definition "God" and the "beginning". Different cultures have created their on images of "God" and creation. For example different cultures and religion believe the creation of earth happened in different ways. I think that this is a major reason that these lines are very ambiguous, because they are basically open to your own interpretation. There are many different creation myths and they all differ.

In Genesis a certain type of god  is discussed. their is only one god and he is the all mighty. he is described as merciful and as creating life. He is the creator. I think he is described as this because it portrays him as more concrete rather than ambiguous. Giving him these emotions makes people have a better understanding of him and more accepting of his creation. creation is ordered  in a certain way. first he creates earth then heaven then all of the plants and creatures. The last thing he creates is the human race. He creates man in his image and likeness. I think that he may have created man in the likeness of himself because he wanted to create people to enjoy his creation of earth and its creatures. I also think that he created them in his likeness because he is vain. he wants to marvel at the likeness of himself.

The tree of knowledge is a major part of Genesis. God tells Adam that he can not eat from the tree of knowledge cause he will surely die. I think that the tree of knowledge is forbidden because he wants his earth to be perfect and thinks that once there is knowledge of good and evil there will be war, fighting and death. Once they discover knowledge they are bound for death. In Genesis the tree is said to be lovely to look at. I think that the tree is like this because knowledge is desirable and attractive. I think that there is a definite link between vision, desire and knowledge. As humans now we all desire knowledge and strive for it. Some even find that knowledgeable people to be more visually attractive. The tree of knowledge changed the way Adam and Eve viewed each other and the earth which was created for them.