Ancient Hebrew or Jewish culture grew out of the societies of the ancient Near East. ... Biblical laws are part of the indigenous legal traditions of the ancient Near East. ... Two altars, one smaller than the other, have been found at archaeological sites in the Near East, and some scholars believe these represent Yahweh and his consort, Asherah. ... The Bible's garden of Eden is similar to the Sumerian garden of creation. ...

• Word Count: 2927
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

In all of the religions of the world, one of the primary questions that they are to answer is that of the meaning of life and life after death. As long as man has been self-aware and cognizant of the passage of time, he has operated with the knowledge that he, at some time as a mortal man, must end his life and die. He is naturally unable to ascertain the nature of his purpose in life and what may pertain after death, and soon begins to develop an explanation for what happens to him, or his essence when he passes that barrier. The early monotheists developed the most structured and defined...

• Word Count: 3357
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: Undergraduate