Unit 2 World Mythology Unit 2 World Mythology

Unit 2: World Mythology

Unit 2: World Mythology Topics to be discussed… Emphasis on… 2 � More archetypes! � � Creation Myths � � Destruction Myths � Pantheons � Origin Stories � Greek Mythology Native American Mythology Norse Mythology

Archetypes Understanding Creation Myths

Archetype Arch- (Prefix meaning “superior” or “chief”— most important) & Type: having common characteristics So: The most important common characteristics

Creation Myths � The symbolic narrative of the beginning of the world � Understood and believed by a particular culture or community � Usually spiritual or religious in nature (i. e. Genesis) 5

Creation Myths � Mostly considered “false” today because of scientific pursuit of facts � BUT myths are stories that convey Truth through symbols rather than straight facts 6

Creation Myths Answer some of human-kind’s biggest questions: � Why are we here? � Where did we come from? � Why is everything so messed up? � What is the nature of evil? 7

It is the nature of humans to wonder about the unknown and search for answers. At the foundation of nearly every culture is a creation myth that explains how the wonders of the earth came to be. These myths have an immense influence on people’s frame of reference. They influence the way people think about the world and their place in relation to their surroundings. Despite being separated by numerous geographical barriers, many cultures have developed creation myths with the same basic elements [Archetypes] 8 -Lindsey Murtag

Creation Myths Pre-Creation: That which is uncreated (What was there before our world/universe began? ) The Creation Process: How the world and all that is on it came to be Post-Creation: What happened to establish life as we know and experience it 9

Pre-Creation What was there BEFORE what is here? Typical Pre-Creation Archetypes: v. Chaos : The Void or the Deep (Waters) represent CHAOS ( Really Formlessness) which will be given ORDER (Form) through a creative act. v. Supreme Being/Beings (If presented as self-existent) : That which will create everything else. God or gods. (What philosophers call “the necessary First Cause”)

The Creation Process Separations: v Chaos to Order � The process of giving form to the universe � Often represented by the separation of land (Order) and water (Chaos) v Darkness to Light � Light represents illumination and revelation 11 Birth � The beginning of Life, culminating in the formation of humanity

Post-Creation Why things are the way they are: v. Organization: Identification and separation of species and genders and cultures. v. Setting of rules and social expectations v. Fall from Innocence : The fall of humanity (and the world) from an Ideal to a broken reality. v. Sometimes this is caused by the Celestial Being(s), sometimes it is a result of human disobedience (sin) v. Meant to explain why we face the troubles we do (sometimes very specifically)

Post-Creation (Sometimes) Departure of the Creator � In some stories Creator(s) will depart and remain separate from their creations (completely unaware) � Some remain separate but observant (omniscient) � Some depart but allow other “gods” to remain in contact/interact with humankind 13

MYTHS: SYMBOLISM This is why myths are more powerful than literal factual accounts: • Symbols allow storytellers to suggest layers and layers of meaning-possibilities that a simple, literal statement could never convey. • A symbol is like a pebble cast into a pond: It sends out ever widening ripples of meaning. It takes you on the journey.

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MYTHOLOGY: To truly make Myths matter, we need to: v. Work to interpret (understand) the DEEPER meaning of the Archetypal Symbols v. Consider how these connect to our lives v. What can we learn? v. What can we apply in a meaningful way?

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MYTHOLOGY: INTERPRETING ARCHETYPAL SYMBOLS

GENESIS CREATION ASSIGNMENT: In your groups, answer the following: 1. Identify the Creation Archetypes 2. Give two aspects of human experience this story explains.

ASSIGNMENT: Let’s go deeper by interpreting the meaning of the archetypal symbols: 3. What could nakedness (and the later need to cover their nakedness) represent? 4. In this story, what does the forbidden fruit of the tree represent? (HINT: It’s pretty obvious)

ASSIGNMENT: Let’s go deeper by interpreting the meaning of the archetypal symbols: 5. What characteristics would a Supreme Being have that humans would not? 6. If humans moved away from a Being with those characteristics and into what the fruit provided, what problems would arise? (One would definitely be related to their response to that nakedness)

Genesis What archetypes can be found within this creation myth?