Historical Look at Religion

The Earth, an extraordinary celestial body, has an intricate and debated history that captures the imagination. Trees like Methuselah, a bristlecone pine in California, offer us a carbon-dated timeline extending over 4,800 years. However, the techniques of dendrochronology suggest a much longer timeframe, reaching back approximately 11,000 years. The human timeline is even more elusive. For instance, Aboriginal traditions and archeological sites such as the Madjedbebe rock shelter suggest that humanity has been around for at least 65,000 years.

When it comes to recorded history, the spectrum is vast. We have artifacts like the Palermo Stone, which lists Egyptian pharaohs dating back to 6000–3150 BCE. The Mayan Long Count Calendar starts in 3114 BCE, a date supported by the Dresden Codex. James Ussher, a 17th-century Irish archbishop, calculated Earth's creation as occurring in 4004 BCE—a claim that has been the subject of much discussion and debate.

If we shift our focus to early religious texts, the Zoroastrian scriptures known as the Avesta are particularly compelling. These writings, dating back to the 10th century BCE, describe how Ormuzd created the world and the first two humans, Adama and Evah, in a narrative that would later parallel the Garden of Eden in Judeo-Christian tradition.

Then we have the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest known pieces of literature. This ancient text introduces us to Enkidu, a character formed by divine will from the earth. His story involves temptation, loss, and a cunning snake, elements that resonate deeply with later biblical narratives. 

The Epic also contains a flood story that predates the biblical account of Noah. The character Utnapishtim survives a divinely ordained flood in a large vessel, mirroring the tale of Noah in astonishing detail. It's a remarkable illustration of how stories and themes perpetuate through various religious and cultural traditions over time.

Ancient Egyptian wisdom texts, such as the Wisdom of Amenemope, exhibit striking similarities to the Hebrew book of Proverbs. For example, the admonition to "incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise" found in Proverbs 22:17 bears a marked resemblance to corresponding phrases in Amenemope. Such examples are not mere coincidence but indicate a complex web of cultural and religious transmission.

Moreover, the lex talionis principle of "an eye for an eye" has antecedents that extend far beyond the Judeo-Christian milieu, finding expression in Hammurabi's Code and even in far Eastern traditions. Its universality across cultures hints at a shared moral underpinning that transcends any single religious tradition.

The narrative of virgin births is another motif that appears in religious texts far predating the Christian Scriptures. Figures such as Horus in Egyptian mythology, Zoroaster in Persian tradition, and Mithra in the Roman pantheon, all share this miraculous origin story. It's worth noting that the birthdate of Mithra is also commemorated on December 25th, resonating with the Christian celebration of Jesus' birth.

When examining the Ten Commandments, one finds additional parallels in the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Phrases like "I have not blasphemed," and ethical prohibitions against theft and adultery in these ancient Egyptian texts exhibit clear thematic alignments with the Decalogue.

One critical archaeological artifact supporting this point of view is the Code of Hammurabi. Dating back to around 1754 BCE, this extensive legal code is etched into a stele that can be seen today in Paris's Louvre Museum. Scholars like Martha T. Roth, editor-in-chief of the *Chicago Assyrian Dictionary*, have delved into the shared legal and moral themes between this Babylonian code and the Ten Commandments. Themes such as property rights, theft, murder, and false testimony can be found in both, suggesting that these codes tapped into a shared moral and legal zeitgeist of their respective times.

This is where things get a bit more complex. While it might be easy to draw direct lines from Babylonian law to biblical laws, scholars like William W. Hallo and K. Lawson Younger stress that we should understand these similarities more as parallel developments rather than direct transmissions. Ancient Near Eastern texts have shared themes that resonate across cultures, creating a broader backdrop against which the biblical texts were written.

Another fascinating precursor to the Ten Commandments comes from ancient Egypt, a civilization that predates the biblical period by centuries. They had their own set of moral and ethical guidelines, articulated through the concept of Ma'at—essentially a cosmic order that spanned truth, balance, and justice. The Egyptians penned what's known as the 'Book of the Dead,' containing 'Negative Confessions,' which were declarations of moral innocence. Egyptologists like Miriam Lichtheim have shown how the concept of Ma'at overlaps with the ethical paradigms later evident in the Ten Commandments.

Therefore, it becomes increasingly evident that the Ten Commandments, and by extension Judeo-Christian tradition, can be understood as a synthesis and reinterpretation of a myriad of ancient belief systems. They represent not so much a radical departure as a continuation and refinement of preexisting ethical, spiritual, and philosophical dialogues. However, it's an oversimplification to view these commandments as a unique or isolated set of principles. Rather, they stand as a crossroads where multiple legal and ethical traditions meet, influenced by millennia of human thought.

Many people associate the Ten Commandments primarily with the biblical tale of Moses scaling Mount Sinai to receive divine laws directly from God. This compelling narrative has undeniably etched its mark on Western theology and morality. However, the story's power often overshadows the reality that these guidelines were not formulated in a vacuum; they were shaped by much older legal and cultural influences.

Scholars across various disciplines—historians, archaeologists, and religious studies experts—largely concur that the Ten Commandments owe a debt to older Near Eastern legal codes and philosophical systems. This is not an argument for plagiarism but rather an acknowledgment of how cultures borrow, adapt, and transform ideas over time—a phenomenon often referred to as "cultural diffusion."

So, when we talk about the Ten Commandments being handed down to Moses during the period of the Exodus, estimated around the 13th century BCE, we're looking at a culminating moment. This event didn't appear out of nowhere; it was a synthesis of various legal, ethical, and religious frameworks that had been evolving independently across ancient societies.

There's an intriguing socio-political aspect to all of this. Some scholars speculate that the Ten Commandments served a unifying purpose. Let's remember that ancient Israel wasn't a cohesive entity but more like a collection of tribes. A single narrative, attributing laws directly from a divine source, would've been an epic tool for rallying these tribes under a unified ethical and legal banner.

Others opine that framing these laws as divine decrees was a masterstroke for establishing their authority. By claiming that Moses received these laws directly from God, they're suddenly beyond dispute. This framework offered a robust underpinning for social cohesion, particularly at a time when early societies were grappling with how to govern themselves effectively.

So here's the way I see it: While the narrative of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments directly from God holds immense spiritual and historical significance, it's equally essential to recognize how these commandments are the result of an intricate tapestry woven from various cultural, legal, and moral threads. They serve as an enduring testament to the depth and complexity of human ethical thought, echoing through millennia up to our modern world.

Source: ["Context of Scripture" by William W. Hallo and K. Lawson Younger](https://www.worldcat.org/title/context-of-scripture/oclc/47092066)

Source: ["Code of Hammurabi"](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Code-of-Hammurabi)

Source: ["Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor" by Martha T. Roth](https://www.worldcat.org/title/law-collections-from-mesopotamia-and-asia-minor/oclc/38930005)

Source: ["Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms" by Miriam Lichtheim](https://www.worldcat.org/title/ancient-egyptian-literature-a-book-of-readings-vol-1-the-old-and-middle-kingdoms/oclc/69974555)

Source: ["The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day"](https://books.google.com/books?id=A2p7JWX6DiEC&dq)

Source: ["The Ten Commandments: The Significance of God's Laws in Everyday Life"](https://www.amazon.com/Ten-Commandments-Significance-Everyday-Life/dp/0060929960/)

Source: ["Who Wrote the Bible?" by Richard Elliott Friedman](https://www.worldcat.org/title/who-wrote-the-bible/oclc/15367389)