This is the second post of the book The Lost World of Genesis, written by Dr. John Walton. The first chapter is titled Genesis 1 is Ancient Cosmology. This is chapter 2 which is titled Ancient Cosmology is Function Oriented. This chapter deals with a question: What does it mean for something to exist? There could be different answers to this question.
One possible answer to the question is to deal at the ontological level; another one is to deal at the teleological level. (The author does not use the word 'teleological'; it's mine. But I understand that to be the point he is trying to say.) Ancient cosmology is not about dealing with the material existence of the known universe; it is rather about the function of the universe. When we talk about a computer's existence, it can be discussed at different stages. When the manufactured parts are assembled or when the programmes are written or when the softwares are installed or when someone connects power and make use of all the above. In ancient cosmological terms 'unless people (or gods) are there to benefit from function, existence is not achieved.' Or to put it in computer's terminology -- unless someone boots the computer and uses it to her benefit, the computer won't be considered to be existing. Materially the computer exists, but functionally it does not exist! Ancient cosmology does not 'bother' about the material world unlike present cosmology; it is rather about the function it performs. To understand ancient cosmology in term of function that it performs is widespread in ancient near east literature. This was the cultural norm of the day -- whether it's the Sumerian or the Babylonians or the Egyptians.
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