While reading all of the creation stories I found many similarities. God is depicted as an all mighty perfect being. Although he is never seen or heard by man he is thought to have given all life to earth. While reading, “The Great Hymn to Aten,” it seemed as if this God was created by the king in order to justify his power. “Every leg is on the move since to founded the earth. You rouse them for your son who came from your body” (33, 118). According to the King he is the son of God. Like many other rulers he believes he derives his power from God.
Similarly, in the Yoruba Creation of Man story it seems as if the idea of God was created to keep people from consuming palm wine rather than an idea for the creation of the earth. The belief that Obatala drank wine and then accidentally created blind men, albinos and cripples seems to me more like a scare tactic or a lesson.
I believe this idea can also be seen in the “Genesis.” God punishes the humans when they do not listen to him but he created the plant in the first place. He could have chosen not to create that tree. He could have also chosen not to create the snake. In my opinion this story seems as if its intention was to instil fear in the people so they would follow certain rules that are included in the bible. Another thing that could be assumed is that the genesis tries to enforce the idea that women came from men and that man has authority over his wife.
I found it interesting how you pointed out the idea of these creation stories placing fear into people. At first, I disagreed with your point of view but it grew on me as I gave it more thought. The snake is also a great point especially when it says,” most cunning of all the beasts…”(Genesis:3). At first I thought this sentence was just to embrace the deceitfulness of this creature but now I also see it with fear. The words” of all the beasts” really brings out the intensity of this situation, which could have also been used to enhance the feeling of fear. Also the way you spoke about the plant and the tree and how God used it as a test also shows how it could have been possible that the story was more set up to be an enforce of the idea of authority and following the rules. When we break the rules or do something against our beliefs we create a guilty/ dirty conscious which could have also been the reason why Adam and eve saw things differently after they disobeyed god.
I completely agree with you when you say that God was almighty in these creation stories. If you think about it, the reason the King said God was his father could be that he wanted everyone to look at him like a god. When people look at god they see him as someone who can solve there problems and bring glory and tranquility in their lives. For a king, tricking his people into thinking that he was the son of God was just pure Genius. I also agree with your final point in which you say God punishes the humans when they do not listen to him. God is “almighty” he deserves the attention of the human race. To them he is looked up to as there savior. Obviously when he is ignored, he will take it out on them. In regards to the tree and the snake, you can say that god did not have to create them, but had he not what would have happened then? Life is run in an order of chronological events, had those things not been created, who knows where things would have gone?