Chapter 8

Jonah Lynch – January 2023

Morality

1 Universally, the moral code reveals the existence of an implicit perception of an absolute to which the norms relate. Nonetheless, the initial reason for the evil and the way in which it is cured differ markedly. In Mesopotamia, the absolute did not establish morality and evils are facts inscribed in the reality of things. In the Bible, God establishes the moral code and acceptance of this code is the indispensable presupposition for any relationship with God himself.

Differing Origins

1 Mesopotamian moral texts are casuistic, seeking to correct an imbalance of harmony without reference to a central authoritative source. The Bible attributes moral codes to explicit and concrete divine revelation which is not open to amendment, and sin is understood as a personal affront.

1 By ethics we can mean a crystallization linked to the wider social context that functions as a shell in which the life of the individual takes place. In the Mesopotamian world, the point of reference is the city, which is given primacy of place as the defining force behind social life and ethical norms. The Biblical counterpart is the chosen people, but the emphasis is on God’s initiative rather than endogenous factors.

1 In Mesopotamia, deities are guardians of an order that has already been established without their intervention. In the Bible, The law and the commandments are written by the finger of God himself (Ex 31:18).

Choice and Disorder

1 In the Bible, evil and sin are rooted in the deliberate choice to oppose the explicit divine will, which is the foundation of the moral order, and an awareness of guilt brings about a sense of personal responsibility. Mesopotamian religion does not have a concept of disobeying a code of conduct found in the absolute: rather, evil is incorporated into the process of transformation that follows from the origin of things and does not constitute a moral stance. Sin is seen as an infraction of order, often regardless of personal responsibility.

The Demons

1 Mesopotamian demons are morally neutral beings which belong to the divine sphere. Biblical demonology is colored by the structural caution in introducing any kind of hierarchy within the sphere of the divine but there are mentions of angels, seraphim, the figure of Satan, and evil demons. In neither religion is there a precise equivalent for the Christian devil or concept of hell.