1. The Gifts of the Jews Introduction and Chapter 2

2. Cahill’s Thesis The Jews started “it” all. What is “it”? Why is this idea revolutionary? What difference does it make?

3. The World of the Hebrews

4. The World of the Sumerians The Wheel of the Cosmos—all attributed to the gods The wheel Ships Brick The arch The dome 3200 BCE Writing Mathematics—square roots and cube roots Medicine—practical—not magical But ALL attributed to the gods

5. Cuneiform alphabet

6. The Sumerian hero: Gilgamesh »Gilgamesh and Enkidu GGilGGil GGilGGil

7. Gilgamesh and Enkidu defeat Humbaba

8. The Death of Gilgamesh

9. Gilgamesh as epic Pride in the city of Uruk The epic hero: Gilgamesh –Part human, part divine –Engineer –Navigator –Warrior –Competitor –Ambitious –Loyal friend

10. Sumerian values A people happy on Wall Street in 2010

11. Sumerian Cosmology

13. The Sumerian Pantheon Heaven=Father Earth=Mother Air=Mediator between Heaven and Earth –Most important god in the Pantheon Sea=Unpredictable and dangerous god Nanna-Sin=Moon god Ishtar= Goddess of Love

14. Sumerian view of the gods The gods decided human fate. Fate was written in the stars, could not be changed. The gods did not relate to humans in a personal way. The temple priests and priestesses practiced fertility rituals and sympathetic magic. There was no guarantee that the gods would hear their pleas. The individual human being is insignificant in the Wheel of Life.

15. Enter Abraham C. 1850 BCE Abraham journeys to Canaan Who is Abraham? –Genesis 11.24-32 Why is this geneology significant? –Other cultures did not consider ordinary people worthy of a geneology—only kings –Even the women are listed here

16. Enter Avram C. 1850 BCE Avram journeys to Canaan— OUT OF THE WHEEL Significance: a new world view –Progress is possible Avram has listened to a voice speaking to him—an ordinary person –Genesis 12. 1-8.

17. Significances The importance of the individual The possibility of change and progress A personal relationship with God The idea of faith –Avram does not know where he is going---but he goes. Contrary to all of the wisdom of the East— stay put and meditate on the Wheel

19. Avram in Egypt Avram the sly—says Sarai is his sister Pharoah takes her into harem Avram gets her back along with keeping the “bride price” The triumph of the little person over the big person—significant theme of Hebrew and Christian Scripture

20. Avram’sVision Genesis 15. 1-6. Faith again—personal relationship

21. Sarai and Hagar Rivalry between the women –Childbearing is a woman’s function –To be barren is to be scorned –Motif in Hebrew and Christian Scripture God makes the barren fertile Sarai drives Hagar out God speaks to Hagar and promises her many children –Hagar is a woman and a slave

22. Avram and Covenant What is a Covenant? How is this Covenant expressed? The significance of naming

23. Three Visitors Hospitality Typological reading The promise—Sara laughs

25. Abraham argues with his God To save Sodom— Personal relationship Importance of the individual

26. The Sacrifice of Yitzhak Genesis 22 Faith Typological reading

27. What are the values in this story Progress History Individualism—even the little people Faith

28. Monotheism Personal relationship with God

29. Abraham to kill him-- Was distinctly told-- Isaac was an urchin-- Abraham was old— Not a hesitation— Abraham complied— Flattered by Obeisance— Tyranny demurred— Isaac to his children— Lived to tell the tale— Moral: with a mastiff— Manners may prevail. »Emily Dickinson