This creation story was very refreshing to me because it’s written in such a way where unknowns are acceptable. In a genre that has been dominated by religion, admitting that you don’t have all the answers is a rare thing. We can see this when the author asks the question “so who knows truly whence it has arisen” (line 24) when referring to creation. It’s pointed out that even the gods came later in creation (23). This is a very open-minded way of looking at things. Even as we get to a more original creator, the author still questions whether the creator actually fashioned it, or took part, and even whether he knows or does not know of it (26-28). Is this creation story meant to galvanize people around a certain way of belief?

I loved the dichotomy in this text. It reminded me on the yin and yang, and of the phrase “two sides to the same coin”. One verse that stuck out began with “in the beginning desire descended on it” (13), which was followed by “that which is, is kin to that which is not” (16). Could this be a reference to fear, the opposite of desire?

This creation story reminded me of the Bhagavad-Gita. There was a lot of introspection for a creation story. Many qualities of the mind were mentioned, such as wisdom, strength, impulse, and desire. Do you find there to be similar qualities between the two texts? Or is it just a predisposition to think so, since we just finished reading the Bhagavad-Gita and we know both texts are from the same region?

Is “The One” the first human or a God? Desire descended on “The One” so I have assumed it to be the first human. Who are “the Sages” in this text (15)? They seem to be an ever-present force, monitoring the creation of the world and life.

At what point in history do you think this text was written? It’s said “the gods themselves are later than creation” (23). Is this the dispelling of a polytheistic religion or did the culture always believe that the Gods weren’t the root of all creation?

I think we can learn a lot from this text. The way the subject is approached is very opened minded, or without attachment, and it’s possible to say “I don’t know” with complete confidence.