Genesis Reading

Hebrew Literature Reading

1. Summarize what the Bible is using page one of the reading.

The Bible is a collection with several different types of books, like the Torah, historical accounts like the Book of Samuel, and other different short stories and poems. Most people believe that Moses and King David wrote the Bible, but there are many theories that multiple people wrote parts of the Bible. Although the Bible covers a variety of topics, it focuses on the power and benevolence of God, the covenant that he created with the Hebrews, their struggle to stay within the rules of the covenant and how God forgives them even if they do stray away form the covenant. The Bible is also a written record of Jewish culture, and has been very influential to other religions, especially Christianity and Islam.

2. a) What is the attitude toward nature does Genesis convey?

Genesis has a respectful tone towards nature, because humans need nature to survive. At the same time, there is a tone of domination towards nature, because god creates the earth before he creates humans so they can live off of it and use it.

b) Explain how specific passages contribute to this attitude.

After God creates man, he says, “Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” This implies that humans should dominate the land and use it for what they need, while respecting it and replenishing it.

3. What are the implications of the relationship established between humans and the rest of creation?

The implication of the relationship between humans and the rest of creation is that it creates an idea that humans can dominate the earth and that it is there jut for our use. Although this created a kind of dominating relationship, it also means that humans need to respect the rest of creation and treat it will because they need it for survival.

4. Why do you think God links “the knowledge of good and evil” with death?

God links the knowledge of good and evil with death because before they ate the fruit, they only knew about good and not evil and God did not want people to be evil, just good. So when someone eats from the tree, they would die.