Questions about the existence of life and the creation of the world are always mind-boggling and fascinating, however, the true answer to these questions may never surface. We can only rely on the myths, stories and legends passed down from generation to generation by ancestors and on the clues they left behind. This essay will attempt to uncover ancient Mesopotamian and Hebrew views of existence and creation by examining sources such as Genesis and other ancient Mesopotamian texts and poems. The Mesopotamians and Hebrews had contrasting views on how they explained the events of their lives, and through the analysis of ancient sources these differences will be highlighted. In such populous and growing regions, human conflict was inevitable and some of the codes of law brought into force to establish order within society will be examined. Throughout it all, God and religion played a central role in these ancient civilizations. The people of the ancient world often asked questions about their existence and how life and men appeared on earth. Most ancient people answered these questions through religion. The Sumerians were the first significant group of people to inhabit Mesopotamia and were known for practicing a form of worship called polytheism, which is the worship of multiple gods. The Mesopotamians associated different gods with natural events, emotions, and other events. Their principal deities included An (the god of the skies), Enlil (the Lord of the Storm), Enki (the god of wisdom), and Nihursaga (the mother of all living things) (p. 22). The Mesopotamians believed that the gods controlled all events and happenings in life. An ancient text entitled "Creation of Man by the Mother Goddess" (p.34) helps us understand how the M...... middle of paper ......f the divine world but the kings were responsible for expressing God's wishes on earth. The most famous of these law codes was that of Hammurabi. The Hebrews tried to establish order using Yahweh's Ten Commandments and the Torah. Mesopotamian deities were difficult to please and were easily angered. The Mesopotamians constantly felt like they were letting their gods down and usually didn't even know why. The Hebrews had a much more forgiving god. Through texts like “The Book of Job,” it is evident that Yahweh was a harsh god but ultimately always forgiving and just. He had few demands on his people and all were ethical and easy to meet. As long as his followers followed Yahweh's laws, they were all capable of receiving his blessings. Through it all, it seemed that God and religion were at the center of every aspect of life in ancient civilization..