The creation stories in Genesis show remarkable similarities to myths from other cultures, especially Babylon. What themes are most similar? Where are the stories in Genesis most different from the others? What can these similarities and differences tell us about the message of the Genesis accounts?

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The Answer is The Enuma Elish and Genesis begin in a similar manner, with the world formless and void. The beginnings of these stories also share remarkable similarities in vocabulary and concept, suggesting that the first Genesis account (written after the Enuma Elish) drew upon the Enuma Elish. Parts of the Gilgamesh Epic and the Atrahasis tale also share many details in common with the Genesis flood story, suggesting further influence. Unlike the pagan stories, however, the Genesis stories feature one God rather than a multiplicity of gods and do not include a cosmogony or battle between the gods. The biblical stories thereby emphasize that the God of Israel is in fact the creator of the world and superior to all potential rivals.

The Creation Stories in Genesis Show Remarkable Similarities to Myths