1. Introduction to Religion
January 16, 2013
Review of Monday
Aztecs & Incas
Cradle of Civilization

2. Oral Tradition
This
Not This

3. Antiquity Prehistory ~40,000 BCE Pre-Literate ~10,000 BCE

4. Evidence Burial Sites & Finds Temples/Ruins Ceremonial Artifacts
Representations of Deities, Spirits, Heroes...

5. Exo-centricity
Points toward human orientation to others and to the world... A relationality beyond corporeal existence but not to the exclusion of that physical reality...

6. Activities of Ancients
Hunting & Gathering
Farming (Agriculture)
Male & Female
Calendar/Seasons
More Leisure
“Civilization”
Writing (Scribal Tradition)
For Posterity
~3,200 BCE in Mesopotamia
~2,200 BCE in Indus Valley
~ 600 BCE in MesoAmerica
Orality
Generation to Generation
Face to Face

7. What Difference Do You Think Writing Makes to Religion?
In Small Groups: Whisper Down the Lane
Write It Down... Consult With Other Group Representative
Write It On Board

8. Pre-Columbian (Central America & Mexico)
The Olmecs (1200 to 500 BCE)
The Maya (500 BCE to 900 CE)
The Toltecs (800 CE to 1000 CE)
The Aztecs (1300 CE to 1500 CE)

9. Quetzalchoatl (Toltec)
Depictions Change... Resembles Hernan Cortes (1519)

10. Critical Theory Says What?
Hegemony
Artificial
Social Constructs
That Dominate Diverse Cultures

11. Pre-Columbian (Central Andes)
The Chavin (600 to 300 BCE)
The Moche (100 to 1000 CE)
The Tiahuanaco (200 to 500 CE)
The Chimu (1200 to 1500 CE)
The Incas (1200 to 1600 CE)

12. Chimu Gods (North Peru)
Sea
Moon

13. What kind of Power Politics are represented in the Myths and Symbols of Pre-Columbian Religion?

14. So-Called Civilization

15. Geo-Political Perfect Storm Egypt... Babylon...Persia
Jeremiah 1:14
14:11-16
29:4-7
Around 581 BCE,
Jeremiah Writes About Invasion of Babylon
Jeremiah Tells Exiles to Settle There
Later he is taken to Egypt (contrary to G.)
Writes to those in Exile in Babylon
King Cyrus of Persia Liberates Jerusalem ~ 536 BCE
Jeremiah 42
Jeremiah 50:9
Ezra 1:1

16. Assyrian/Babylonian Literature
Enuma Elish: Creation Story ~2000 BCE
The Epic of Gilgamesh: Flood Story ~2500 BCE

17. Enuma Elish & Gilgamesh Stories Discovered in Library Ruins of Assyrian King, Ashurbanipal ~629 BCE Hebrew Scriptures Include Genesis, Accounts of Creation and Flood, which seem to be in dialogue with both Assyria’s and Babylon’s religious myths & symbols. ____________________________ Genesis & Other Texts Compiled After Return from Exile in Babylon

18. Is It A Coincidence? Or... Isn’t It Likely that Religious Texts Are Always Hybrid Texts?

19. Tiamot
Marduk

20. The six days of creation in the Genesis myth parallel the six generations of gods in the Enuma Elish myth in type of god in Enuma Elish that is created (i.e. god of the earth) to what is created or happens on the corresponding day in Genesis (i.e. the waters are gathered together to expose dry land).
Marduk the sixth generation god makes man as a slave so the other gods can rest.
God (Elohim) makes man on the sixth day and he himself rests.

21. Let’s Talk Creation Genesis 1:1-2:3 Genesis 2:4-24
Heavens & Earth/Formless
Light/Darkness
Day/Night
Waters/Sky
Dry Land/Sea
Vegetation/Fruit
Seasons/Signs
Living Sea Creatures
Living Land Creatures
Humankind (Male & Female)
God Rested...
“These are the Generations
Water/Stream
Man (Adam=Earthling)
Garden
Every Tree
Tree of Life
Tree of Knowledge...
Rivers:
Pishon/Gihon/Tigris/Euphrates
Every Living Creature
Woman (From Man)

22. For Friday Read Partridge, pp. 89--99
One Week from Today: 2-Page Paper is Due on January 23
Your Response to the Question: Are Human Beings Inherently Religious?