CREATION MYTHS STORIES THAT EXPLAIN LIFE THE UNIVERSE

CREATION MYTHS STORIES THAT EXPLAIN LIFE, THE UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING

CREATION MYTHS • Asking questions, looking for answers • Origins of humanity, th Earth, animals, plants, and other elements of nature • Cultures invent stories to make sense of the world for their times

COMMON THEMES • Creation Myths from around the world have some similar themes. • Modern scholars have observed these themes. • Individual myths do not exactly fit with modern stereotypes. • Each creation myth contains several common thematic features. • We will examine interesting similarities and differences.

COMMON ELEMENTS: CREATION/GEOGRAPHY • Beginnings • Often a jumbled mass of components which serve as the first elements of life • Formation of the Gods • Male or Female gods give birth to children • Natural • Unusual • Explanations for the formation of mountains, valleys, oceans, rivers, etc.

COMMON ELEMENTS: GENEALOGY • First gods born did not always create the world. • Often, their children decided to fill the world with life. • Creates a hierarchy.

COMMON ELEMENTS: SUPREME BEINGS • Polytheistic • Monotheistic

COMMON ELEMENTS: CREATION OF HUMANITY • Created by a god or supernatural being • Establishes: • links between humanity beings and the supernatural world • continues the hierarchy

COMMON ELEMENTS: ANIMAL/HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS • Animals played key roles in many Creation Myths • Sometimes viewed as equal to humans • often reflect feelings of culture for animals • Account for the existence of the forms of life that inhabit the planet. • Might explain physical characteristics of the animals.

OTHER COMMON ELEMENTS: NIGHT, FEAR, FIRE, INSTRUCTION, SIN, CONSEQUENCES • Night & Fear • the setting of the sun brought on fear and chaos • Instruction & Fire • Divine tutoring • Fire: Dual Nature • Sin & Consequences • Brings pain, suffering, illness, etc. into the world

CREATION MYTHS • Humankind continues to answer origin questions. • For some, scientific evidence serves as a basis for creation stories • For others, deeply rooted ancient beliefs remain the cornerstone in their own theories