Contrasting Views of Mortality and Legacy in Hebrew and Greek Traditions

The difference between the Jewish and Greek worldviews come into even sharper focus with a careful study of the ancient Greek myths. Together, we’ll explore the following the questions:

1. Why do shepherds feature so prominently in both Jewish and Greek hero-figures?
2. How do the Jews and the Greeks differ in the way they relate to the animating spirits of the world?
3. What is the difference between the Greek notion that man was created in the shape of the gods and the Jewish perception that man was created “in the image of God”?

Recommended Reading: D’Aulaire, Ingri & D’Aulaire, Edgar. D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths. New York: Delacorte, 1992.