The main difference I see is that the mystical account has to do with God creating an empty space (whether through receding entirely or just taking away his light) and then filling it up again, just a little, whereas Genisis talks more about God creating through speaking. The mystics also say that God created (or, more likely, formed) creation using language. But, the mystics see it more as written language than spoken, whereas in Genisis you get the feeling that God spoke (and God said...). The mystics also talk about what was around before this world was created, and Genisis will not go there.
I guess today in class I was proven wrong with my thoughts... I see now that the two versions of the creation story are a lot more similar than is orignally apparent. I really enjoyed being able to analyze the stories and take symbolizism out of them. However, I still feel like some things are unexplained - which is obvious in the number of questions we all had in class today. But I guess that is all part of the mysticism - trying to explain the inexplicable!
The creation described in genesis is one of the more objective and non-descript passages in the torah, in the sense that it is hard to find hidden meaning within the passage. It clearly lays out what happened each of the days, ending in "and G-d saw this was good, on this ____ day". The mystics, however, look beyond the "creation from nothing" method of genesis and try to explain what was around before, and what creation represents as far as G-d's effect on human (and everything else') existence.
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The main difference I see is that the mystical account has to do with God creating an empty space (whether through receding entirely or just taking away his light) and then filling it up again, just a little, whereas Genisis talks more about God creating through speaking. The mystics also say that God created (or, more likely, formed) creation using language. But, the mystics see it more as written language than spoken, whereas in Genisis you get the feeling that God spoke (and God said...). The mystics also talk about what was around before this world was created, and Genisis will not go there.
I guess today in class I was proven wrong with my thoughts... I see now that the two versions of the creation story are a lot more similar than is orignally apparent. I really enjoyed being able to analyze the stories and take symbolizism out of them. However, I still feel like some things are unexplained - which is obvious in the number of questions we all had in class today. But I guess that is all part of the mysticism - trying to explain the inexplicable!
The creation described in genesis is one of the more objective and non-descript passages in the torah, in the sense that it is hard to find hidden meaning within the passage. It clearly lays out what happened each of the days, ending in "and G-d saw this was good, on this ____ day". The mystics, however, look beyond the "creation from nothing" method of genesis and try to explain what was around before, and what creation represents as far as G-d's effect on human (and everything else') existence.
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