Gensis & Babylonian Creation Myths Compared

Genesis God creates all matter, but is independent of it Earth is in darkness and chaos over the deep (Tehom).	Enuma Elish The Divine Spirits and cosmic matters coexist and are coeternal. There is a primeval chaos in which the gods war against the deep (Tiamat).
Genesis 1st day the creation of light	Enuma Elish Light emanates from the gods
Genesis 2nd day the dome of the sky is created	Enuma Elish creation of the firmament (dome
Genesis 3rd day creation of dry land	Enuma Elish creation of dry land
Genesis 4th day creation of heavenly lights	Enuma Elish creation of heavenly lights
Genesis 5th day creation of animals	--------
Genesis 6th day creation of man	Enuma Elish creation of man
Genesis God rests and sanctifies the sabbath	Enuma Elish the gods rest and celebrate with a banquet

References:

"Liberals vs conservatives," 1999-NOV-11, Aus.religion.christian newsgroup, at: http://www.pastornet.net.au/
http://www.cumber.edu/acad/rel/hbible/HebrewBible/hbmisc/enumaeli.htm
http://www-relg-studies.scu.edu/netcours/hb/sess4/enuma.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Cyprus/7418/lk11.htm
http://www.hope.edu/bandstra/RTOT/CH1/CH1_TC.HTM
a contrary view is presented at
http://www.creationresearch.org/creation_matters/98/cm9801.html

Comparison of 1st Creation Story with Babylonian Creation Story

The Babylonian creation story is called by its first two words "Enuma Elish." According to archeologists, it was originally written circa 1120 BCE. It was discovered in 1875 CE. It bears many points of similarity to the first creation story in the Bible: ₁

Item	Jewish Creation Story	Babylonian Creation Story
Source	Genesis 1:1 to 2:3	Enuma Elish
Date of writing (liberal belief)	8th or 9th century BCE	Late 12th century BCE
Date of writing (conservative belief)	13th century BCE, the time of Moses	Late 12th century BCE.
Author (liberal belief)	"P," authors of the Priestly tradition.	Unknown.
Author (conservative belief)	Moses.	Unknown.
Creator(s) of the universe	A single God, YHVH.	A God battling a Goddess.
Initial state of the earth	Desolate waste; covered in darkness.	Chaos; enveloped in darkness.
First development	Light created.	Light created.
Next development	Firmament created - a rigid dome over the earth separating the earth and heaven.	Firmament created; also perceived as a rigid dome.
Next development	Dry land created.	Dry land created.
Next development	Sun, moon, stars created.	Sun, moon, stars created.
Next development	Creation of men and women.	Creation of men and women.
Final development	God rests and sanctify the Sabbath.	Gods rest and celebrate.

The many points of similarity between the two traditions is conclusive proof that one story was derived from the other (or that both were derived from a still older original).

According to liberal theologians, the Babylonian account of creation was written in the 12th century BCE, centuries earlier than the Biblical account. According to conservative Christian theologians, the opposite happened: the Babylonian account was written after the Biblical account.

COMPARING TWO CREATION STORIES:

GENESIS 1 & A BABYLONIAN STORY OF ORIGINS

References:

Comparison of 1st Creation Story with Babylonian Creation Story