Genesis

I didn’t know much about the nurture versus nature argument as a child. I knew the basic opinions of both sides; nature, which claimed that humans are born naturally evil and selfish, and nurture, which claimed humans’ actions are dictated by their experiences. I also knew that it was a very controversial topic, and that my religion claimed we were all naturally sinful based on the story of original sin, where the first humans God created, Adam and Eve, are tempted by Satan to eat forbidden…

One of the most well known Biblical stories, the Parting of the Sea is a tale that has been interpreted in many different ways. As Collins states, this story is the “narrative climax” of the story of the exodus. Although many details are changed in each interpretation, Moses’s portrayal has the largest impact on the story and can make two interpretations drastically different. Roger Young’s “Moses” portrays Moses as a run-of-the-mill Hebrew who achieves extraordinary things through God. Cecil B.…

Ovid begins his book Metamorphoses with the creation of earth. The world began with a single element called Chaos, it was found throughout the land until the gods created light and order. With the new earth came the creation of plants, animals, and the human race. However, the gods soon realized the ruin that came with each human. The gods summoned the great flood, which was a fresh start for the earth and its inhabitants. The gods spared all the animals and two humans to repopulate the earth.…

Unlike its prominence in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, revealing one’s sexuality is only an underlying theme in Jandy Nelson’s I’ll Give You the Sun. The novel introduces readers to two different narrators, twins Noah and Jude, whose accounts take place at two different points in time. Specifically, the topic of homosexuality and coming out is mainly featured in Noah’s account at thirteen years old. Throughout his side of the story, Noah, who is gay, struggles to embrace his sexuality…

"For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." (1 Timothy 2:13-14). In Classical Myth, Barry B. Powell notes that both the Holy Bible and Ancient Greek mythology were "composed by males for males in an environment utterly ruled by males" (119). As only males in Ancient Greece received an education and the ability to read and write, we can collect male values through the narratives. After all, the function of myth is to…

Hammurabi was a Babylonian King who had many accomplishments, one being the Code of Hammurabi. According to the text, Hammurabi was a great leader to his empire. His successful skills as a military leader and an administrator qualified him for rule. During his reign he paid attention to the needs of his people, improve the irrigation of fields, built opulent temples to the gods. and maintained the infrastructures of the cities under his control. He used his military strategies to win the wars…

Gary Soto’s vivid imagery and religious allusions recreate an event where sin and guilt leads him to reflect upon his actions as a six-year-old child. In the beginning of A Summer Life, Gary Soto reveals that he has a religious background by quoting that “he knew enough about hell” and that he “was holy in almost every bone”. In addition to his religiously influenced statements, he also states “angels flopping”. The recurrence of allusions from the bible in the introductory passage emphasizes…

In Ashby’s film, Being There approaches to confirm Christian themes, and preach basic themes in Monotheistic religions. The imagery of Christian themes provides a framework of ideas, and he often makes reference to belief, in Christian theology. In the film, Chance is seen as a Messianic-like figure, by representing himself to use simple language in metaphors, and his language affects individuals. He encourages individuals to appreciate simpler things and nature. Chance can also be interpreted…

Lewis uses himself as a character in the first chapter “to break down the distinction between his fictional world and our ‘factual’ world.” Lewis grounds the story in real life and history; this makes the story feel tangible. As an author, he draws on people whom he knows to create realistic characters. He knows himself and knows what he would do when presented with a specific task, making himself a ‘player character’ that impresses the sense of authenticity into the story. Creating a story…

The famous quote goes, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and the same holds true for artwork. Everyone interprets artwork differently with a variety of variables that can affect one's interpretation at any given time. In an Interpretation of Michelangelo's Creation of Adam Based on Neuroanatomy, Dr. Frank Meshberger attempts to show how Michelangelo intentionally painted God and the surrounding angels to represent the exact makeup of the human brain. He presents this in the form of an…