Biblical cosmology should not be assumed to match ancient Near Eastern flat-earth cosmology just because surrounding cultures believed it; Genesis radically demythologizes creation compared to the Enuma Elish

Winger is skeptical that the OT teaches a flat earth or solid dome. His argument: (1) The claim is driven by parallels with surrounding cultures, not by clear OT teaching; (2) Even if all surrounding cultures believed something, that does not mean biblical revelation teaches the same thing. He uses creation narratives as an example: the Enuma Elish presents Marduk slaying Tiamat and her body becoming the cosmos, while Genesis radically demythologizes creation. The sun, moon, stars, earth, and oceans are not deified in Genesis, just created objects. The biblical creation account differs markedly from ANE cosmologies despite surface similarities, suggesting the Bible deliberately counters the surrounding worldview.