Creation MythsCreation Myths Innate in human nature is the Innate in human nature is the

drive to explore. Chief among drive to explore. Chief among these explorations is the desire these explorations is the desire to explain the origin of man, to explain the origin of man, earth, animals, plants, and earth, animals, plants, and other elements of nature.other elements of nature.

In an effort to explain these In an effort to explain these origins, early man invented origins, early man invented stories which made sense in stories which made sense in regard to his specific time regard to his specific time period and culture.period and culture.

These stories are known today These stories are known today as “Creation Myths.”as “Creation Myths.”

Common Common ThemesThemes

Interestingly, Creation Myths from around the world Interestingly, Creation Myths from around the world often share many similar themes.often share many similar themes.– It is important to remember, however, that these It is important to remember, however, that these

similarities have been attributed by modern similarities have been attributed by modern scholars, not the inventors of the stories.scholars, not the inventors of the stories.

– Therefore, individual myths cannot be expected Therefore, individual myths cannot be expected to conform exactly to modern stereotypes.to conform exactly to modern stereotypes.

– Rather, each creation myth will likely contain Rather, each creation myth will likely contain several common thematic features.several common thematic features.

We will attempt to explore these interesting We will attempt to explore these interesting similarities, while also observing any obvious similarities, while also observing any obvious differences.differences.

Common Elements:Common Elements: BirthBirth

EggEgg– Often a jumbled Often a jumbled

mass of mass of components components which serve as the which serve as the first elements of first elements of lifelife

ChildbirthChildbirth– Male or Female Male or Female

gods give birth to gods give birth to childrenchildren

NaturalNatural UnusualUnusual

Common Elements:Common Elements: Mother and FatherMother and Father

Very common in Very common in many world many world culturescultures– Mother usually Mother usually

earthearth Life emerges from Life emerges from

earth/wombearth/womb

– Father usually skyFather usually sky Sense of unity Sense of unity

created (marriage)created (marriage)

The first god born The first god born did not always did not always create the world.create the world.

Often, his or her Often, his or her children decided children decided to fill the world to fill the world with life. with life. – The parents’ work The parents’ work

was finished by was finished by the child.the child.

Common Elements:Common Elements: GenealogyGenealogy

Most cultures Most cultures revered a revered a pantheon of pantheon of supreme beings supreme beings (polytheistic)(polytheistic)

Some cultures Some cultures revered a single revered a single creator creator (monotheistic)(monotheistic)

Common Elements:Common Elements: Supreme BeingsSupreme Beings

Many stories allude Many stories allude to a time when the to a time when the earth was covered earth was covered by waterby water– many myths feature many myths feature

a creature diving a creature diving into the water to into the water to retrieve some earth retrieve some earth to grow and form to grow and form the Earththe Earth

Common Elements:Common Elements: Earth-Diver MythsEarth-Diver Myths

Animals played Animals played key roles in many key roles in many Creation MythsCreation Myths– often viewed as often viewed as

equal to humansequal to humans– often reflect often reflect

feelings of culture feelings of culture for animalsfor animals

Common Elements:Common Elements: Animal/Human RelationshipsAnimal/Human Relationships

In the creation In the creation myths of many myths of many cultures, darkness cultures, darkness represents fearrepresents fear– the setting of the the setting of the

sun brought on sun brought on fear and chaosfear and chaos

– this fear and chaos this fear and chaos was sometimes was sometimes represented as firerepresented as fire

Common Elements:Common Elements: Night, Fear, Fire, and SinNight, Fear, Fire, and Sin

Many creation Many creation myths consist of myths consist of at least one of at least one of these elementsthese elements– The The

consequence is consequence is often what often what causes pain, causes pain, hunger, disease, hunger, disease, and all other and all other evils which evils which plague the earthplague the earth

Common Elements:Common Elements: An Instruction, a Sin, and the An Instruction, a Sin, and the

ConsequenceConsequence

Created by a god or Created by a god or supernatural beingsupernatural being

EstablishesEstablishes:: – a connection between a connection between

human beings and the human beings and the supernatural worldsupernatural world

– the place of humans in the place of humans in the hierarchy of life in the hierarchy of life in the universe (below the universe (below gods, above animals)gods, above animals)

Common Elements:Common Elements: Creation of ManCreation of Man

Many legends offer explanations for the Many legends offer explanations for the formation of mountains, valleys, oceans, formation of mountains, valleys, oceans, rivers, etc.rivers, etc.

Common Elements:Common Elements: Creation of Geographical FeaturesCreation of Geographical Features

Almost all creation Almost all creation stories account for stories account for the existence of the existence of the forms of life the forms of life that inhabit the that inhabit the planet.planet.– May also explain May also explain

the physical the physical characteristics of characteristics of the animals.the animals.

Common Elements:Common Elements: Creation of Lesser Creatures Creation of Lesser Creatures (animals, plants insects, etc.)(animals, plants insects, etc.)

                            

Much like our distant ancestors, we strive to Much like our distant ancestors, we strive to uncover our origins and determine our place in uncover our origins and determine our place in the universe.the universe.

Scientists advance new theories each year on Scientists advance new theories each year on the origin of the universethe origin of the universe– For some, scientific evidence serves as a basis for For some, scientific evidence serves as a basis for

creation storiescreation stories– For others, deeply rooted ancient beliefs remain the For others, deeply rooted ancient beliefs remain the

cornerstone in their own theoriescornerstone in their own theories

Creation MythsCreation Myths