What does the word “mythology” mean to you? Name some of the major mythologies that you know and tell a little about the mythology.

“Write Now” 10/1

Mythology: stories that are meant to instructDoes NOT mean an untrue story!!!!!Myths have serious moral implicationsCaptures the essence of the human experienceMythology builds cultures

Definition

GreekPolytheistic

Judeo-ChristianMonotheistic

ScienceNon-theism

Major Mythologies of Western Culture

Torah (Judaism)Old Testament – Covers creation and major laws and beliefs

Bible (Christianity)Old Testament + New Testament, with focus on the newShares beliefs of Judaism but with revisions made my Jesus

Quran (Islam)Considers Old and New Testaments as holy works but

provides a new book to reconcile the two, through the teachings of Muhammad

Recognizes Jesus as a profit but see his divinity as contradictory to a monotheistic religion

Three Holy Books

Pentateuch: first five books of the Old TestamentGenesis, Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy,

Leviticus

Genesis:CreationCovenants – promises made by GodFirst Families

Our Focus: The Torah

Moses: originally credited with authorship

Problems with Mosaic Authorship:DiscrepanciesRepetitionsSpeaking in third personTalks about his own deathLinguistics: different writing styles

Genesis Authorship

4 major contributors to the PentateuchYahwist Source (J)Elohist Source (E)Deuteronomist Source (D)Priestly Source (P)

Documentary Hypothesis

Uses personal name “Yahweh” for GodAnthropomorphic portray of DeityVivid, concrete styleDramatic storyline (beginning with creation

Gen. 2:4)

Yahwist Source

Uses generic plural Elohim for GodLess picturesque (than J)Less anthropomorphic (than J)Begins narrative with Abraham

Elohist

More elaborate rhetorical style than J and E

Deuteronomist

Focuses on Priestly interestsLegalistic Ritual

Precise, pedantic style, meticulously listing genealogies, censuses, dates, and instructions for the cult

Added to JE epic during and after the Babylonian exile

Priestly

Projects