Parable of the Burning House

In Gilgamesh we were told about a great flood that struck Shurrupak. A god called Enlil became mad at the city because it was very noisey due to its growing population, he complained that he can't sleep at night. He told the other gods about his complaint and they agreed they should wipe out the mortals. In an attempt to destroy mankind he creates a flood. Ea, another god, tells a man called Utnapishtim to build a boat out of his house in a dream. Utnapishtim does as he was told. Utnapishtim asks Ea how to make the others believe him. Ea says to tell the others that Enilil was angry with Utnapishtim, so Utnapishtim may no longer live on land. Utnapishtim builds a seven deck boat. When the boat was set into water he took his family, relatives, animals, and craftsmen who helped him build the boat. The flood lasts for six days and six nights. Utnapishtim sees a mountain, the boat floats towards it. Utnapishtim realeses three birds, one after the other, in an attempt to find shore. The first two birds return but the third, a raven, doesn't return. Utnapishtim then knows that there is shore for him to go to. Utnapishtim gives sacrafices of cane, cedar, and myrtle. Ishtar tells the others gods about Enlil and how he started the flood. Utnapishtim was then blessed with eternal life. This story is very similar to the story of Noah in Gensis. The flood in Noah was also to a punishment for mankind. Utnapishtim and Noah were chosen to build an ark to survive the flood and then

Almighty (Genesis 17: 1-4). He is seen as divine entity, who knows all and sees all. In this aspect

creation to the edge of the world, hoping he would fall off, never to be

Earth with thy folds, and hollows, and holes, into which a man may fling himself and crouch down! […] O Earth, thou grantest us the great resisting surge of new-won life. (4.23-4.25)

David Foster Wallace wants the reader to realize that the most important and the most obvious realities are often the ones that are the hardest to see and talk about. Seeing what’s right in front of you can be the most difficult thing because you are always looking further and not opening your eyes to see the most obvious parts of life. Wallace is additionally trying to get the reader to tap into the real meaning of life as well as trying to move people away from their “default setting”. The opening of this speech starts out with the story of wise fish and the two young fish. After being asked about the water by the older fish, the two younger fish realize that they don’t know what water is. Fish don’t know water exists until beached;

He then brought a flood that washed away all the humans. After the flood Viracocha saved 2 humans who he called upon when he needed help. Out from the dark depths of Lake Titicaca Viracocha bought eternal light to the new earth summoning

supposed to have decided to destroy the earth by water. In the Biblical book of

the sky on his shoulders. Because he was to carry the sky on his shoulders he became the God of

At last, in the ultimate reversal of the original process of creation, the ravaged land sank

“The earth was dry and rock-hard. Nya felt puzzled and doubtful: how could there be water in such a place? And when she asked Dep that question, he shook his head. She could see the doubt in his eyes, too.” p. 64

This means that both the fish owner also owns a cat, and that God at some point had to create this evil force.

First there was Chaos, the vast immeasurable abyss, followed by the child Night and Erebus, which is the unfathomable depth where death dwells. From darkness and from death Love was born. Love created Light with its companion, Day. Then earth just “appeared.”

"In the beginning there were only three gods: Neke, Xea and Sanvi. Sanvi and Xea had a son called Fussa who later was the king of the gods – he was the god of courage and wisdom. However, there was nothing on the earth that could be brave or wise. In fact, there was nothing on the earth at all; just a barren wasteland.

• God is the most high God, all-powerful, all-knowing, the creator, full of unfailing love and truth, God is the only “true” God. He is the light.

Vast, all-knowing, creator, so much more. How do you define your God? The Father is so much more than human kind can grasp, therefor, being nearly impossible to fully define without using opinion and imagination. The knowledge of God is the largest piece of shared information among humans throughout time and space. I will explore my personal thoughts of God, humanity and Jesus, as well as reflect on Christian worldview.