Monotheism: evolution or revolution?

Reading: Genesis 1-11 Creation, Flood, and the Tower of Babel (Blackboard: HebrewScripture1.pdf)

Writing: Respond to ONE of the following prompts. Keep your response short, posting as a reply under the appropriate heading in the comments section:

1. The Book of Genesis opens with not one but TWO accounts of the creation of human beings: the first describes how the world was created in six days followed by a seventh day of rest; the second tells the story of Adam and Eve’s temptation by the Serpent in Eden. Setting to one side the apparent contradiction (we will address that in class), describe how these accounts differ. Keep your answer short! Don’t give a list of differences; focus on one core difference, a difference of tone or scope or maybe even genre.
2. Many of you are probably already familiar with Genesis 1-4, but likely in a different translation. Whereas most Biblical translations are the work of religious organizations, we’re reading the translation by a highly regarded scholar of Ancient Hebrew, Robert Alter. If Alter’s phrasing struck you as odd or surprising at any moment, see if you can dig up the phrasing you’re familiar with (there are lots of Bible translations available online) and quote a line from Alter alongside a line from your version (make sure to label them both clearly). Then comment briefly on which one you like better—and why.
3. There are a host of differences between the Biblical story of the flood and the one in Gilgamesh. Highlight one that strikes you as culturally significant in distinguishing the ancient Hebrews from the other peoples of Mesopotamia.
4. The Tower of Babel episode provides an account of city-building in sharp contrast with the story of Babylon’s founding in the Enuma Elish. Comment briefly.