The Cosmogonies of Genesis and the Laws of Manu - 2188 Words

Philosophy of Religion The cosmogonies of Genesis and the Laws of Manu The symbolic world views of how the world was created can be described through the cosmogonies of Genesis and the Laws of Manu. It is through these theories that one can learn how the universe came into existence. Many individuals consider a certain religion to be their ultimate realm of reality, and it is within religion that these symbolic world views come into play. The cosmogony of Genesis began along a sacred history of time where god created merely by speaking. In contrast, the Laws of Manu involve creation through thought. In Genesis, there is only one god and in Laws of Manu there is more than one god. Both cosmogonies have many similarities as they have†¦show more content†¦As Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they became naked and god cursed them by banishing them from the Garden of Eden and placing a guard around the Tree of Life. The serpent is pre-existent evil and is considered a proto, a type of Satan (devil). In the Laws of Manu, Ishvara is the lord who created this various creatures of the universe from his own body. Similar to Genesis, the water is pre-existent matter. Through thought and concentration, he first created the waters which is Devi, the goddess, and put his seed into them. It is like the concept of the spider which creates the web from within itself. The seed that was planted became the golden egg was like the sun, and from that cosmos, in other words the universe was born. From that egg, Brahma (the lesser god) was born and was known as the first creation. Ishvara in the Laws on Manu was the first cause, the efficient cause and the material cause. By Ishvara, the god, planting his seed in the goddess, Devi, the cosmic egg was created which was Brahma who was the creator within cosmos. He represents the symbol of creation and destruction as he is the creator, destroyer and the preserver. Ishvara is both transcendent and immanent, for he is independent from and exists within our universe. In Hindi theism, it is believed that god is greater than the universe, inShow MoreRelatedPhilosophy Essay1805 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿Question 1 Classified as Genesis this cosmogony in generalization covers and focuses mainly on the creation of the cosmos and is written and portrayed in a biblical format. Genesis in chapter one begins discussion of the â€Å"beginning† and how god (elohim) created the heaven and earth (cosmos). It is said that when the earth was shaped it was without form and emptiness and that darkness upon the face of the deep illustrated in the term chaos (Tehom). Eventually the spirit of god (elohim) cameRead MoreThe Biblical Cosmogony Is Based On The Provisions Of Genesis1282 Words   |  6 PagesThe Biblical cosmogony is based on the provisions of Genesis chapter one. The basis of this myth is the fact that the universe and all its constituents are creations of a supreme being, in this case called God. The myth clashes with scientific views such as evolution theories because it suggests that God created everything by word of mouth and the work of his hands. The religious creation theory is the f oundation of major spiritual convictions, which include Christianity, Judaic and Islam (Blumenthal