Creation in the Old Testament
The anthropocentric viewpoint in Christianity
Creation in the Bible is compared with the Hindu view. The anthropocentric focus in the Bible pulls the two views apart and overshadows the similarities.
The Old Testament of the Bible begins with the episode on Creation in the Book of Genesis, Chapter 1, Verses 1 to 31. When compared with the Puranic view on Creation in Hinduism, one can find similarities and differences.
In verses 2 and 3, the situation preceding the creation of the universe is described. There was void and darkness and “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” And then God created light. In the Puranic Creation much the same thing is said. An ocean of darkness filled the void. The vibrant sound of Om permeated the waters from which came a golden egg shining with the brilliance of a thousand suns. These similarities are not coincidences. Nor has one scripture copied from another. These similarities reflect an identity in core religious experience.
However there is one major difference, which creates an irreconcilable wall not only between Christianity and Hinduism but also between Western and Eastern thought in general. In Verse 28 God asks man to subdue the earth and establish dominion over every living thing. The world was made for man’s enjoyment and benefit seems to be the message. This anthropocentric view has dominated western thought and action ever since. This anthropocentric view has been responsible for unfettered consumption of the earth’s resources. One crucial concept in the verse was conveniently forgotten – “…and replenish the earth”. Even other races were considered as living things and sought to be subdued. This anthropocentric view was the reason of the Church’s adamant stand that the earth was the center of the universe and the sun and the planets revolved around it.
The Hindu view considers the human race as an insignificant cog in the cycles of creation and destruction. In fact the creation of the universe does not normally deal with the creation of the human race. The creation of the human race comes much after the creation of the demigods, and the demons and the sages. Humans are depicted as humble bystanders in the drama of the cosmos.
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