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Creation Stories for Different Religions

Aboriginal Dream Time

The aborigines of Australia belong to one of the oldest surviving cultures in the world. They propose

the Dream time concept of creation. According to this account devoted to creation, land was once flatand barren. There were no animals, birds, trees or bushes, water or man. Baiame, 'maker of things',is believed to have brought the dream time ancestors from beneath the earth and sea and over it. The

ancestors wandered over the land and soon became a part of interesting adventures. They met otherancestors, argued, encountered strange creatures and fought battles. Each event gave the earth anew shape; hills and mountains rose and plants grew. When something wrong was done, the RainbowSnake would punish the ancestors. But the Rainbow Snake was not only vengeful and is also referredto as the Old Woman, who taught humans how to talk and dig for food. When the Emu, and the Eagleancestor fought, the eagle took one of emu's eggs and threw it into the air. The egg burst into flames,forming the sun. The dream time ancestors decided how different creatures should look and behaveand how secret ceremonies were to be performed. The aborigines believe that the dream time is notover, nor are the ancestors dead.

Taoist Yin and Yang

Chinese art and culture and Confucianism speaks of the yin and yang or the dark and the light. Theyare supposed to be the creative power that sustains life and being. Yin and yang are natural forcesbehind even the gods. According to the theory, there was a time of utter chaos, mist and emptiness.Suddenly, there was a colorful light from which all things came to be. The mist shook and everythinglight rose up, while everything heavy sank and became solid. The heaven and earth yielded two strongforces - yin and yang. While yang is hot, fiery and male, yin is moist, cool and female. Left alone theyare capable of destroying the world and together they generate balance and harmony. The belief isthat yang created the sun and the moon came from yin. Together they created the four seasons andthe five elements and all kinds of living creatures. In the beginning, the earth was just a spherewithout features. Yin and yang created P'an Ku, the Ancient One, who was given the task of puttingthe earth in order. He folded mountains and hills and dug river valleys. One day P'an Ku collapsed anddied. When he fell to the ground, his body became the five sacred mountains. Taoism believes that hishair became the plants and his blood formed the rivers. Early people lived in caves, but Heavenly

Emperors taught them to make tools and houses, build boats, fish, plow and plant.

Christian Creation Story

Christianity believes that God has three: the Father, Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1 and 2in the Old Testament of the Bible tells the Christian story of creation. In the beginning, God's spiritroamed the universe and waters and God willed light and darkness. On the second day God createdheaven and separated water from the earth. On the third day, he raised dry land and created plants.On the fourth day, God made the light 'day' and lesser light 'night'. On the fifth day, he created thecreatures of the sea and air. On the sixth day, God created all kinds of living creatures on earth andmade man in his own image. He gave them authority over all living things. On the seventh day orsabbath, God rested. At first, the first man, Adam, and the first woman Eve, lived in heaven, in theGarden of Eden. They were forbidden from eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge - of good and evil.But the serpent tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, which she in turn gave Adam. They realized

that they were naked and hid from God. But God knew of their sin and drove them to earth, to toil.Christian believe that man is the most important of God's creations. They refer to the 'fall' to findanswers to suffering and death.

Hindu 'Yugas'

Hinduism believes that this is not the first world or universe. There have been and are many moreworlds. They are created by Lord Brahma the Creator. Lord Vishnu is the Preserver, while Lord Shiva

plays annihilator. These three gods are forms of the Supreme One. The universe is a vast ocean onwhich Lord Vishnu resides. The lotus flower that springs from his navel is the abode of Lord Brahma.

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The story of creation in Hinduism mentions that when Bramha gets lonely, he splits himself into maleand female, the same for man and beast. Everything comes from different parts of his body, hismouth, arms, feet and thighs. One day to Lord Brahma is supposed to be longer than four thousandmillion earth years. Every 'night' that Lord Brahma sleeps, the world is destroyed and re-created every

'morning'. This cycle of yugas continues forever.

Islamic Creation Story

Islam or Muslim religion states that when God wants to create something, he says "Be", and itbecomes. This was how God created the world and the heavens. He created creatures that walk,swim, crawl and fly, angels, the sun, moon and the stars. The Holy Quran says that God caused it to

rain in torrents, and generated corm, grapes, olives, palms, fruit trees and the grass. Then He orderedthe angels to bring seven handfuls of soil of different colors and modeled man. He breathed life andpower into Adam, the first man and Eve, the first woman. God gave Adam control over the earth.However, Iblis, an angel refused to bow down before Adam, as God had commanded. When Godforbade the couple to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree, the evil one tempted them to disobey God.They did and God cast them out of Paradise, down to earth. But merciful God provided them with

means of food, drink and shelter.

The stories may be different, but the underlying commonality is seen within the fact that all of themspeak of a higher power.

SOURCE:http://www.buzzle.com/articles/creation-stories-for-different-religions.html

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