Biblical Hebrew Forum

[CS Bartholomew <jacksonpollock AT earthlink.net>]

On 10/14/03 1:36 PM, "CS Bartholomew" <jacksonpollock AT earthlink.net> wrote:

> In the history of narrative we find common plots, themes, actors and roles 
> in
> stories from cultures geographically and historically isolated from one
> another, e.g., Aztec and Babylonian. There have been proponents of the view
> that cultural elements (language, stories, etc.) have been transferred from
> the ANE to far away places by ancient sea peoples. I am not one to reject 
> out
> of hand the possibility of cultural transfer in this manner. However, it 
> seems
> more probable that human cultures include what might be called narrative
> universals. Stories common to all cultures which do not need to travel in
> space and time from one culture to another

Before anyone wastes their time pointing this out, I am fully aware that the
Ashtarte story didn't need to travel great distances to become the basis of
Esther story. I think Pastor Eddy has raised most of the pertinent
objections to Esther directly borrowing plot and character from Ashtarte
mythology. 

greetings,
Clay Bartholomew