The Tower Of Babel- : An Etiological Myth

When thinking about the gift offering in the biblical story of Cain and Abel and its impact, one can see many similarities in East of Eden. Cain brought to God “the fruit of the ground” and Abel offered God “the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof” (Gen 4 KJV). God preferred the gift of Abel to the gift of Cain.

Now that Adam and Eve had entered into the world outside the garden they were left to fend for themselves. They had two sons Cain and Abel. Cain became a farmer and Able became a herdsman. They both offered God a sacrifice but Abel’s sacrifice

One twin creates good and the other creates evil. In the first story, the better natured twin creates anything good. For example, animals for humans to eat and digest. His brother created all natural predators, so that the humans would need to develop skills to feed themselves. “Whatever the good natured twin would do, his brother would scheme some way of altering it.” But in this story, good and evil balance each other like yin-yang. Compared to the Christian story, they don’t. In the Judeo-Christian story, the twins are named Cain and Abel, children of Adam and Eve. Abel kept flocks and Cain worked the soil. One day, Cain offered God some of his fruits from his soil, and Abel offered God fat portions from some of his flock. In Genesis 4, it says, “The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.” After that, Cain told his brother Abel to go out to the field. While they were in the field, Cain attacked Abel and killed him. So in this story, the twins really do nothing for Earth and instead one kills the other brother out of anger. Cain got punished from God for killing his brother, which is a

Cain and Abel are the first two sons of Adam and Eve. Cain is the eldest and Abel is the youngest. Cain is described as the tiller of the ground whereas Abel is the keeper of sheep. Both men know that God requires an offering, but the offering of Cain is quite different from that of Abel. Abel fears God, and because of this he offers the best of his flock to the Lord. He kills the animal and makes a sacrifice of blood. Abel understands that the shedding of innocent blood for the forgiveness of sin is acceptable. He also knows that this action of his is representative of surrendering his heart to God. By contrast, Cain brings what he has grown and gathered from the earth. In a way, a foolish man would think

When God proclaims that he favors Abel's gift over Cain's, Cain becomes angry and jealous towards Abel and he eventually kills him. Although God is fully aware of what has transpired, He asks Cain where Abel is, and Cain answers Him untruthfully saying, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:2-5). After God reveals to Cain that he knows of Abel's murder, God banishes Cain to another part of the land and places a mark on him so that no man will kill him.

In Genesis, God interacts with Adam by speaking to him face to face. Whether God was giving out instructions or punishment to Adam and Eve, he was always doing it on a personal level. The usual portrayal of God as an omniscient being is instead replaced as mentor to Adam and Eve who is trying to help them understand their existence. This close relationship is shown even when man does something wrong. The only rule that God gives to Adam is that he must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve go on to break the singular rule and be punished; but not to the extent most would think. Before partaking of the fruit God says that, "the day that you eat of it you shall die"(Genesis). Instead of dying, Adam and Eve are removed from the garden and go begin their lives. God punishes them for their actions, but also gives clothes and allows them to take the knowledge they have gained from the tree. Even after breaking the one rule that he has set for them, God allowed them to keep the knowledge they gained to begin mankind. This grace towards humanity is shown once again with Adam and Eve's children, Cain and Abel. Cain kills Abel after God accepts Abel's offering and not his own. Even with Cain having killed his own brother, God still does not punish Cain severally; "you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth"(Genesis). This punishment is especially seen as inadequate as Cain goes on to settle in Nod and have his own family. This mercy by God shows that he was unable to punish humanity even for the most serious of offenses. This lack of punishment shows God's sympathy for mankind because of his close relationship with them. This close relationship stems from God's close bond with mankind because of their similar image and knowledge. This relationship that began as two very similar beings, has further blossomed as God has given great responsibility to

It’s very important to know the story of the bible because it teaches us how we were created. We were created in the image and likeness of God. The story of the bible also lets us know about Jesus, his fall, his rise, etc. It teaches us some of the different covenants God made to us. It also talks about the prophets of the bible.

What is a myth? When one thinks of a myth perhaps one thinks about a story being told by the fire, or a dramatic tale about an invincible hero, or perhaps a cosmological occurrence that caused everything to be. Personally, when I think of the word myth, I think of the ancient Greeks or Romans with their many gods and goddesses; however, to most, the story being told by a myth is simply that, just a story. To most the term “myth” has been confused for a legend or folklore. The truth of the matter is however, that to religious scholars, a myth is more than just a story; a myth is how a society’s religion came to explain what seemed the inexplicable. With modern science booming and being capable of explaining the events

In the bible there is a story about two boys named Cain and Abel. “ One day, the two brothers bring sacrifices to God. Cain offers grain from his fields, while Abel offers the fattest portion of his flocks.” God favored Abel's gift over Cain's gift. God showed Abel more appreciation for the gift he gave him, leaving Cain by himself feeling hopeless and jealous about how Abel got way more affection and appreciation by god than he did. Cain got so

The first area of interest I have is about how the myths are so tightly associated to the civilization they originate from.

The Epic of Gilgamesh, a book known by many as one of the earliest surviving books of literature. The book symbolizes love, friendship, death, and how one thing can change the world per se.

In the beginning of most stories, they start of with there was nothing but darkness, land and sea. Most of them are about a character of the myth creating a “New World” or creating something for the world in general. Every story is very similar but different at the same time, they are all similar because in every story there is always something being created but different because they all create something different.

In book 4 of the Bible the first brother story takes place. It is one of deceit and competition over receiving better blessings from God. This is the story of Cain and

The Tower of Babel is a biblical story about communication and how the people of babel wanted to create a giant tower to reach the heavens. God realized that since these people could understand each other well enough to make a tower very quickly into humanity. That there was nothing that was going to get in their way. So God confused their language and spread them all over the face of the earth. I found this story very interesting and relatable to this class because it shows that if people are all understanding anything is possible. An example of this is how the Lord put a barrier between our communication skills that way we wouldn’t become too powerful.

         The cycle repeats itself with Adam’s sons, Cain and Abel. Cain is the first farmer, and both he and his brother toil to produce a sacrifice for their master. God (like any kid)