Did Genesis describe an ethical religion, i.e., a religion that demanded moral behavior?
This question is your first example of the kind of document analysis that you will be
answering as part of your assignments in this course.  Please read the question
carefully before you actually read Genesis and before you begin to compose your
reply.  It is extremely important that you answer the question, which deals with
elements of ethical behavior in Genesis, and that you do not just re-tell the story of
Genesis without presenting your analysis of the document.  I have selected this
particular assignment because surprisingly very few people have actually ever read
Genesis and thought about what was in the first book of the Bible.  And so, you will be
reading Genesis as a historian would, as a historical record for analysis.  The
conclusions that you reach will help you understand the origins of ancient Judaism. The
paragraph should be about one-half a sheet of paper, and it must include quoted
evidence, excerpts, from the document to support your analysis.