Why you should become a Bible-believing anarchist
who also believes the universe was created around 4004 B.C.
Thinker / Culture Theology Theonomy vs. Autonomy Cosmogony Politics Babylon (c. 1900-539 BC) Polytheist — chief gods included Marduk (patron of Babylon), Ishtar, Nabu, Shamash. Scripture depicts Babylon as the archetype of rebellion against YHWH (Genesis 11; Revelation 17-18). Autonomy — human wisdom (omens, astrology, divination) guided rulers; God’s revelation rejected. Famous for its “wisdom schools” in magic and astrology (cf. Daniel 1-2). Enuma Elish myth: creation not ex nihilo but from a battle of gods — Marduk slays Tiamat (chaos) and fashions heaven/earth from her corpse. The world is ancient, shaped by divine conflict, not a single Creator. State as god — kings portrayed as semi-divine, ruling by the authority of Marduk. Nebuchadnezzar and successors exalted themselves (Daniel 3-4). Babylon symbolized the fusion of political power and idolatry, demanding absolute allegiance.
✦ Notes
Theology: Babylonian religion was syncretistic and deeply tied to astrology. The “gods” were personifications of cosmic forces, not personal Creator. YHWH’s people were carried into exile there as punishment for covenant-breaking, and Babylon became a biblical symbol of human pride.
Theonomy vs. Autonomy: Babylon prized “Chaldean wisdom” (astrology, omens). Daniel 2:27-28 contrasts this with God’s revelation: “There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.” Babylon represents autonomous reason + superstition without true divine law.
Cosmogony: The Enuma Elish is the clearest surviving Babylonian cosmogony. No creation ex nihilo; instead, cosmic violence among gods produces the heavens and earth. Humans were created from the blood of a slain god to serve as slaves of the divine assembly.
Politics: Babylonian kings (Hammurabi, Nebuchadnezzar) presented themselves as world rulers by divine right. Hammurabi’s Code was introduced as given by Shamash, but functionally the king claimed sovereign legislative power. Nebuchadnezzar demanded worship of his image (Daniel 3) — a picture of the State deified.
✅ Babylon’s answers line up with Assyria’s in many ways — polytheism, autonomy, mythic cosmogony, statist idolatry — but Babylon adds the myth of chaoskampf (creation from divine conflict) and serves as the biblical archetype of “the City of Man” (Augustine’s terms).