Re: [asa] Adam and Adapa

Michael,
I agree with your skepticism, but would take it further. What evidence
does Dick give that the Mesopotamian mythology was derived from the
veridical history of Adam rather than that the author of Genesis
remodeled the Mesopotamian legend to be monotheistic? It is patent that
the structure of the universe in Genesis 1 is that of antiquity--a solid
dome to which were attached sun, moon and stars with water above, and
land with water beneath. The sunderings of Tiamat/tehom seem parallel.
How does the first authentic human being turn up at least over 40,000
years after _Homo sapiens_ appeared, and much longer after there were
worshipers? If the morality unique to a late Adam could pass to Americans
without any contact (or were these aborigines soulless until the
Europeans arrived?), how can redemption not pass to all men without faith
or even hearing? It looks to me as though universalism must follow, and
you're wasting your time in the church.
Dave (ASA)

On Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:22:12 -0000 "Michael Roberts"
<michael.andrea.r@ukonline.co.uk> writes:
Dick , you wrote in reply . I intersperse two comments;

The legend of Adapa, who lived in Eridu, states that he “prepared the
altar table” (see below).

Michael; This is what the legend says!

 In 1940-41, the Iraqi government undertook the excavation of Eridu. At
the bottom layer on virgin soil an altar was uncovered that archeologists
dated to the “fifth millennium.” On top the altar they found traces of
“burnt offerings.” I have a picture of that altar in my book reprinted
from the original published in the Illustrated London News in 1948. The
article was written by one of your countrymen, Seton Lloyd.

Michael ; I am more than happy to accept this 5 millenium BC altar as
genuine.

HOWEVER;

You give no evidence that this altar was made by/for Adapa. Thus it is
only a circumstantial fit and a weak one at that. after all;

When did Adapa live? We need some dates to tie it into the 5th Mill
altar.

Where did he live? Perhaps we can say only that somewhere in the present
day Iraq.

The altar could have been for almost anyone and you give no evidence that
it was Adapa.

It is no better than a Royal Marine discovering an AK-47 in Afghanistan
and saying that it was Bin Laden's personal weapon.

You have not made your case at all and give some maybes but no definite
correlation.

Michael

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Received on Fri Dec 21 16:46:35 2007