1. What does the word “mythology” mean to you? Name some of the major mythologies that you know and tell a little about the mythology.

2. Mythology: stories that are meant to instruct Does NOT mean an untrue story!!!!! Myths have serious moral implications Captures the essence of the human experience Mythology builds cultures

3. Greek Polytheistic Judeo-Christian Monotheistic Science Non-theism

4. Torah (Judaism) Old Testament – Covers creation and major laws and beliefs Bible (Christianity) Old Testament + New Testament, with focus on the new Shares beliefs of Judaism but with revisions made my Jesus Quran (Islam) Considers Old and New Testaments as holy works but provides a new book to reconcile the two, through the teachings of Muhammad Recognizes Jesus as a profit but see his divinity as contradictory to a monotheistic religion

5. Pentateuch: first five books of the Old Testament Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Leviticus Genesis: Creation Covenants – promises made by God First Families

6. Moses: originally credited with authorship Problems with Mosaic Authorship: Discrepancies Repetitions Speaking in third person Talks about his own death Linguistics: different writing styles

7. 4 major contributors to the Pentateuch Yahwist Source (J) Elohist Source (E) Deuteronomist Source (D) Priestly Source (P)

8. Uses personal name “Yahweh” for God Anthropomorphic portray of Deity Vivid, concrete style Dramatic storyline (beginning with creation Gen. 2:4)

9. Uses generic plural Elohim for God Less picturesque (than J) Less anthropomorphic (than J) Begins narrative with Abraham

10. More elaborate rhetorical style than J and E

11. Focuses on Priestly interests Legalistic Ritual Precise, pedantic style, meticulously listing genealogies, censuses, dates, and instructions for the cult Added to JE epic during and after the Babylonian exile