creation myth essay

HowTheWorldWasMadeCreationMyth

CreationMythAcreationmythisanarrativethatsayshowtheworldbecameandhowpeoplecame toinhabittheearth.Aregularmythisknowntobefake,butpeopleactuallybelievecreationmyths. Inthestory"HowtheWorldWasMade",itisexplainedhowtheIndiansbelievetheearthbecame Theearthisexplainedtobeanislandwithfourcordsattachedthathangfromtheskyvault.Ifthe cordsweretoeverbreak,theislandwouldfallintotheoceanandneverreturn.TheIndiansare afraidofthishappening."HowtheWorldWasMade"isacreationmythconsideringthatitfollows allofthecriteriaofacreationmyth;describeshowtheuniverse,earthandlifebegan,explainsthe workingsofthenaturalworld,andsupportsandvalidatesshowmorecontent

Becausethesunwastoocloseatonetime,theRedCrawfish'sshellwasscorchedandhismeatwas spoiled.Therefore,theCherokeedidnoteattherawmeat.Whentheanimalsandplantswerefirst madetheyweretoldthattheyhadtostayawakeforsevennightsOnlytheowl,pantherandoneor twootheranimalswereabletostayawake,therefore,theyweregiventhepowertobenocturnal. Onlyafewtreeswereabletostayawakeandtheoneswhodidnotwouldlosetheirleavesinthe winter.Whenmencameaftertheplantsandanimals,thebrotherhithissisterwithafishandtold hertohaveachild.Insevendaysshehadachildandeverysevendaysshehadachilduntilitgot dangerous"Andtheyincreasedveryfastuntiltherewasdangerthattheworldcouldnotkeep them."("HowtheWorld").Therefore,itwasmadethatawomancouldhaveonlyonechildperyear. Inconclusion,thisstoryisacreationmyth.Therearealotofoccasionsinthisstorythatwouldnot happeninreallife.Forexample,thebuzzardcannotmakevalleysormountainswhileflying.Itis notpossibletohaveachildinsevendaysafterbeinghitwithafishorevenhavingachildevery sevendaysFinally,thisstoryismakingtheearthsoundlikeitisaseedIfoneweretodoscientific researchorreadthebibletheywouldsoonknowthattheearthisnotaseedbutahomefor

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CreationMyth Inthebeginning...

Therewasonlywaterandbare,emptylandInthecenterofthisnothingnesswasagreatmountain Thismountainstoodtallandproudanditreachedallthewayintotheheavens.Attheverytopof thismountainlivedapairofeverykindofanimal.Inthecenterofthisheavengrewatree.Thistree wasnotjustanytree,itwasthesacredtreeoflife,anditwasnottobeharmedinanyway

Amongthediversegroupofanimalswasapairofgiraffes.Thefemalegiraffehadgrowntiredof eatingthesameoldleavesandfruits.Beingstrong–willedandstubbornshedecidedthatshejusthad totryafruitfromthesacredtree.Sheconvincedherhusbandtoaccompanyherandtobeoneofthe firstonesshowmorecontent

HopingthattheGreatOnewillgrantthemthisonerequesttheygotosleepthatnight.

WhentheyAwakeinthemorningtheyfindthattheyclayfigurehascometolife.Thatdaythis humanprovestobeveryhelpfulandcreatesawonderfulparadiseoutofthebarrenland.Thatnight thereisanothergreatstormThemanisstuckmylighteningHeisn'tkilledbutheissplitinhalf Thisotherhalfisslightlydifferentfromhimandisthereforecalledawoman.

ThelandandlifeisflourishingAlltheanimalsandboththemanandwomanarequitecontentIn thespringthatwomanbirthsababyboy.Ninemonthslatershehasanotherchild,agirl.Thebrother andsistergotalongverywell.Theywerethebestoffriendsanddideverythingtogether.Oneday thegirlconvincesherbrothertogowithhertothegreatmountainandclimbuptotheheavens.The boyisagainsttheidea,sincetheheavenswereforbiddentovisiteversincethebanishment,butshe finallypersuadeshimtocomeThereachtheheavensandtherestandstheGreatOneHetellsthem ofhisplans.Thathehadplannedtogivetheanimalandhumanlifeanotherchance,andtoletthem re–entertheheavens.Thischancewasnevertobegiventhough;thetwochildrenhadlostit.

Thechildrengobacktothelands.Thebrotherismadatthesisterandblamesherforthelossof chancesOverthemonthshegrows

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Amythisastorypasseddownfromgenerationtogenerationthatusuallyexplainsnaturalorsocial occurrences.Acreationmythdiffersfromamythbecausetheyexplainhowtheworldcametobe,or theygivepeopleawayoflife."Death,andLifeandDeath"coverstheoriginofdeath,life,andall thedifferentracesoftheworld,thereforemakingitacreationmyth. MatterorlightdidnotexistinthebeginningOnlyDeath,whosenameisSa,andhiswifeandonly daughterexisted.Duetoneedingaplaceforhisfamilytolive,Sacreatedagiantseaofmud.Afew yearslateragodnamedAlatanganacametovisitandwasdisgustedbythefilthinwhichSaandhis familylivedAlatanganaturnedthemudintosolidearth,andmadetheplants

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CreationMythsExamples

Creationmythsillustrateculturalbeliefsofmanydiferenteways,inalotofdiferentesituations.The firstexampleisinSeneca'smyth.TheyhadabigbeliefinHeaven,andinthereweretwoBrothers whousedtodivideanisland.Theyoungestbrotherwasangryandwentontospreadevil,whilethe otheronehadagoodlifeinheaven.Asecondexampleisthattheirbeliefthatwomenweremadeto procreateOn"Hopi"myth,theSpiderWomancreatedhumankindItmayshowthattheonlything thatwomenisabletodoisprocreate.ThelastexampleisinPandoraandPrometheusmyth.Pandora wasrepresentedasastupidpersonandbroughtchãostoworld,anditshowsthatGreeksusedto thinkthatwomenwereinsignificantCreationmythsreally

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CreationMyths

Whomadewho?DidGodcreatehumansordidhumanscreategod?Atfirstthoughtone wouldofcoursesayGodcreatedhumansMancannotcreategod!Whatfoolwoulddaresay suchathing!AfterallthedefinitionofGodsaysthatitisthesupremebeingandthedivine creator,notthedivinecreation.SoofcourseGodcreatedman,right?Orshallwedigalittle deeperintothisquestionandexamineitfromtheotherside?IsGodjustafigmentofmans elaborateimagination?CoulditbethatGodisamythologicaltoolusedbymantomanipulatethe mindtogiveexplanationstotheunexplainable?Ifthisistruethenhumanscreatedgod.

Sincethebeginningofmankind,godsand...showmorecontent...

Alltheyknewwasthatthere

werenecessitiesintheworldthatwerevitaltotheirsurvivalsuchasthesun.Theywereoblivious towhatthesunwas,buttheyknewitwasconsequentialtotheirexistencesotheylabeleditasa god. Yearspast,andastimewentbymanobtainedmoreandmoreknowledgeaboutthe environmentinwhichtheyinhabited.WithKnowledgecamethedawnofanewbreedofgods. Godsthatwouldsatisfymansstarvingimaginationandexplaintheirexistence.Expandingfrom theelementaryelementalbasedgodsoftheEgyptianscamemoreevolvedgods.Godsthatwere morethanjustdominatorsovertheelementsGodsthatexpressedaplethoraofemotionstoward manandbecameamorepersonalformofaGod.Christianity,Buddhism,Hinduism,andMuslim arejustafewexamplesofthecontemporaryreligionsthatwerecreatedbetween2500BCEto

500CE.Whyhaven'ttherebeenanynewreligionscreatedwithinthelast1,500years?Theanswer is

simple.Thehumanraceasawholehasbecomesoabundantwithknowledgethatwearen't nearlyasnieveandsusceptibletomanipulationanymore.Thereforenonewcreationistreligions havebeenoriginated.Sightsthatwouldhaveservedasamiracle2000yearsagohavenow ...Getmorecontent...

MotifsinCreationMythsThemotifsfoundinthecreationmythsareundoubtedlydifferentfrom thosefoundinanyothertypeofmyth.Contrarytopopularbelief,thepurposeofthecreationmyths ismuchgreaterthanaprimitiveattempttoexplainthemysteriesofcreation.Behindeachcreation mythisavastvarietyofsymbolismalongwithanumberofmotiveswhichareoftensharedbetween cultures,despitevastgeographicaldifferencesMyintentionhereisnotonlytodiscussthepurpose ofthecreationmyths,butalsotocompareandcontrastcommonthemeswhichcanbefoundinthree selectedworks.Thesebeing,anEskimocreationmyth,theOngwecreationmythandtheNavajo creationmythEvenwithmodernadvancesinshowmorecontent

Wenowseethesetheoriesasinaccurate,duetothefactthattheyhavebeenreplacedbynewer scientificmodels.Inamodernlight,itcanbestatedthatcreationmythsdescribenottheoriginof ourcosmosbutratherthesemythsallowustogainabroaderunderstandingofancienttheoriesand beliefs.Duringthetimeoftheirinventionhowever,thesemythswerepreciselyanhonest interpretationoftheouterworld,andthereforetheyservedtheexactpurposewhichisstatedintheir title,toexplaintheprocessofcreation.Atechniquethatisusedinmanycreationmythscanbe referredtoas"creationfromabove."Inthismethodofnarration,thecreatoroftencreatesareplica ofearthwithintheheavens,andsomehowrecreatesthisimageintheabyssbelow.Anexampleof thiscanoriginallybefoundinKundRasmussen'scollectionofEskimomyths.Inthisstoryabeing calledTulungersaq,orFatherRavenisbornintheheavensHeinitiallytakestheformofahuman beingandisentirelyunawareofhowhecameintoexistence.Heisincompletedarknessanditis throughhissenseoftouchthathebecomesawareofhissurroundings.Throughhisexploration,he discoversasparrow,andrealizesthatthisistheonlyformoflifethathadbeeninexistencebefore him.Hegoesontoburysomethingbeneaththeearthandsoonafterhediscoversthattheearthisno longersterile,itisnowcoveredinbushesandgrass.Tulungersaqisstill

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CreationMyths

Acreationstoryormythisusuallyonethataimstodictatehowtheworldwascreated.Thoughthese storiesvaryamongcultures,religions,andnations,somearemorepopularthanothers.InHinduism, forinstance,creationstemsfromthecreator,calledBrahma.However,thecreatorisportrayedin variousformsandBrahmahasbecomelessimportantthantheothertwomembersoftheHindu trinity,ShivaandVishnu(Leeming35)ItisbelievedthatBrahmacreatestheworldfromvarious formsofhimself.ThisisessentiallytheidealitythatHindu'sideaofcreationportraysdifferent Gods/avatars,correctlyknownasdeities.Anothercreationstorythathashigherpopularityin AmericaoriginatesfromtheBibleThetraditionalJudeo–Christian

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CreationMyth

Throughoutourlives,wehaveheardmanystoriesaboutthecreationofearthandhumans.Whether theyarereligiousbased,myths,folktales,orstoriespassedonthroughgenerations;theyallhavea commonpurposewhichistoexplainhoweverythingcametobe.Inthemyth,TheCreationofthe UniverseandHumanBeings,thecreationofearthisexplainedthroughtwogodsthatessentially "fashioned"heavenandearth,aswellasagoddessnamedNuKuathatcreatedhumanbeings Throughoutthisstorythereisacommonthemeofcreation,andtheexplainingofhowearthand humanbeingswerecreated.AlthoughthisisaChineseculturebasedmyth,itstillholdsmany similaritiesandrelevancetoourworldtodayWeallhaveourownideaorbelief

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MayanCreationMyths

Differentcultureshavedifferentbeliefsandvalues.Inthispaper,Iwillspeakabouttwodifferent culturesandtheircreationmyths.Therearedifferentmythsfloatingaroundwithineachculturethat explainthecreationofhuman,earthandanimals.ThetwoIhavechosenisTheOldTestament CreationandTheMayansCreation.TheOldTestamentCreationisverycommonamongst individualstodayThisCreationinvolvesAdamandEveTheMayanscreationwentthrougha seriesofchangesuntiltherighthumanswereformed.

TheOldTestamentcreationcombinesexnihiloanddeusfabermotifs.Godcreatedtheheavensand theearthIttookGodsevendaystocompletehiscreationDayone,Godseparatedlightfrom darkness.Hecalledthisdayand...showmorecontent...

Thesemythsshapethewaypeoplelivetheirlives.Themainpurposeofcreationmythsinaculture istoexplainrituals,customsinbeliefs.Therearethingsthatwemaynotbeabletounderstandor explain.Creationmythsexplainshowhumanswerecreated,whyweareimperfect,whywedie,why thereissufferingandwherewegowhenwedie("CreationMythGantjes",2004)Ifyoutakethe timeandlookathowreligionsarelinkedtothehistoryofcreationmyths,you'llseehowitshapes thewayweviewcultures.TheOldTestamentcreationstatedthatEveandAdamdisobeyedGods command.TheresultfromAdambeingdisobedient,hewouldhavetoworkhardandsufferto survive.Evehadtoendurethepainofcarryingachildandserveherhusband.InChristianitytoday, thisistheresultofmenandwomenWeaswomenendurepainwhencarryingachildMenhaveto workveryhardtomakea

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CreationMyths

CivilisationsusesacredoriginstoriestoofferdescriptionsonGod,identity,meaningandthe purposeoflife.Inmanyculturesthesestoriesarereferredtoascreationmyths.BernardDoyle furtherexplains,"Creationmythsareamongstmankind'searliestattemptstoexplainsomeofthe mostprofoundquestionsaboutthenatureandoriginoftheuniverse".Inparticularwhenfocussing ontheUpperKingdomancientEgyptianwrittenandvisualcreationstory,thesignificanceofculture andreligionisdominant.ThistextteachescontemporaryAustraliansaboutthediversityofcreation beliefsinreligion.Thisargumentativeessayfocusesonahistoricalandsocialapproach,addressing thethemeofchangeinareligioussocietyItisimportantshowmorecontent Hieroglyphicsisdifferenttonormaltext,asittoldastorythroughpictures.Thesepictureswerea majorpartofEgyptiancultureandformedasignificantaspectincreationmythology.Howeverthe EgyptianwritingfollowedwiththechangeinreligiontoCopticChristianityandthenIslamic.These writingstyleswerepickedupbythepopulationandhieroglyphicsagainjustbecameaculture practiceofthepastThisshiftwasimportantstepawayfromtraditionalmythology,whichwasused asapartofcreationstories.Thisaddedchangecontinuedthetransformationofonceacontextual creationmyth,tonowamoreliteralstorywhichhasbeenproven ...Getmorecontent...

Myths–astheyareknowntomostoftheworld–giveinsightintothepastsofvariouscountriesand religionsasthepeoplesawthem.Theyhavebeenusedtoexplainphenomenonsinnatureor describethetalesofcourageousandimportantmenandwomenthroughouthistory.Creationmyths inparticulardefinehowtheEarthitselfwascreated,alongwiththeuniverse,heavens,hell,people, andcreaturesthatexisttodayGenesisofChristianmythology,forinstance,tellsthestoryofhow thesingledeityGodspokeandformedeverythingfromdayandnighttomanandwoman.Various Africancreationmyths,suchaswiththeYoruba,explainthecreationoftheEarththroughatleasta couplegodsworkingtogetherandalllifeshowmorecontent ProfessorscorrelateBuddhismandChristianity,HinduismandIslam,ConfucianismandHinduism, andGreekandRomanmyth,sinceallofthosepairsseemtofollowsimilarpatternsorderivetheir idealsfromoneanother,evendowntothesamegodsbutwithdifferentnames.Theycomparethe Abrahamicreligions:Christianity,IslamandJudaism;the"Dharmic"orIndianreligions,including Buddhism,Hinduism,Sikhism,andJainism;andtheTaoicreligions,encompassingalargegroupof withTaoism,Confucianism,andShinto.Thesecomparisonsgiveusastrongerunderstandingof previouscivilizationsandtheirbeliefs,andshowsthepatternspeoplemakeasacultureasthey developoverthecenturies.

Itshouldbenotedthatallcreationmythstendtopossesssimilarthemes,despitedifferingstory lines.Asnotedbefore,thereexiststhebasicideasofchaosbeforecreation,andgodstoformlife. Butthenvariousmythsshowthat,oncelifehasbeencreated,thegodstendtoretreatfromthe humanitytheycreate,insteadwatchingthemfromafarandusingspecificallychosenandoften religiouscontactstospreadtheirwordsandcommands.Thisdeus

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ExamplesOfCreationMyths

Whatcreationmythdoyoubelievein?Therearemanydifferentcreationmyths,eachculturehas theirownbecausetheybelievetheworldwascreateddifferent.Eventhoughcultureshavedifferent mythssomeofthemhavesomethingincommon,whichisamotif.ThemotifsthatIthinkarethe mostimportantarethefollowing;Mostmythsstartwithchaos,Menarealwayscreatedbefore women,andHumansaremadefororganicmaterialWithoutthesemotifsthecreationmythswould besillyandwouldnotmakesense.

CreationmythsmostlystartwithChaos:

Inmyopinionthemostimportantmotifofall,ishow,mostlyallcreationmythsstartwithchaos Mostmythsuseschaosbecausenobodyreallyknowswhatwasbeforeearthandgod,especially wayshowmorecontent

Menwerealwayscreatedfirstbecausetheyarestrongerandcanwithstandmorethanwomen.When thegodswouldmakewomentheymadethemsmallandfragile,theywerenotmeanttodohard laborEverycultureusedthismotifsothatmeansitmustbeimportantandasmartideatouseThe mainreasonthatwomenweremadewastogivethemencompany,bethemen'smate,andtakecare ofthechildren.Whilethemenwereoutalldayworkingoffindingfoodforthefamily,whilehis wifewouldbeinsidewatchingthechildrenandcleaningthehouse.

Humansweremadeoutoforganicmaterials:

Mostmenweremadefromorganicmaterialsbecausethegodswantedthemtoeitherbeapartof themortheearth.Theculturesthatusedthismotifweremostlikelypeoplethatlovedtheearthand worshipedtheirgodeveryday.Therearemanyculturesthatuseorganicmaterialstomakethe humansbutsomematerialsdidnotworklikethegodswerehopingforForexampleintheYoruba creationmyththehumansaremadefromclay,butwhileObatalawasmakingthepeoplehewas drunkandmadethemalldeformedandugly.Obatalawasaverynicegodanddidnotkillthemhe justmademorepeoplethatwereperfect.AnotherexampleistheMayancreationmyth,Inthe beginningofthemythTepeuandGucumatzmadeanimalsandweredisappointedbecausethe animalscouldnotspeaktosaytheirnamesandpraisethemTepeuandGucumatzdecidedtocreate manandtheymade

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CreationMythsMymythologyclasshasbeenreadingandlearningaboutmostofthecreation myths.Acreationmythishowtheearthbeganandhowhumansfirstcametoinhabitit.Also,we havereviewedthemotifsofthemyths.Amotifislikeapatternofthesimilarsituationshappening throughoutthemyths.ThethreemotifsIthoughtthatwerethemostcommonwerethatmosthada singlecreator,peoplewerecreatedfromorganicmaterial,andthebattlesthatwentonbetweenmost ofthegods.

MostmythshadasinglecreatorInmyopinionIthinkthatifthereweremorethantwocreatorsthen thatwouldbetoomuchpowerAcreatoristheonethatputstheearthtogetherandformsthefirst humansonearth.Quiteafewcreationmythstorieshadonlyonegodthatcreatedeverything.For example,theBabylonianhadonecreatorwhichwasMarduk,theHinduhadonecreatorwhichwas Prajapati,theInuithadasinglecreatorwhichwasRaven,theChinesesaidtherewasonlyoneand hisnamewasPan...showmorecontent...

SomeofthebattleswerebiggerthanothersbutIthoughtthatthebattleswereimportanttouseasa motif.IntheHinducreationtherewasadisagreementofthechoicesPrajapatiwasmakingwithhis daughter.TheothergodsgotveryangrywithPrajapati.Forrevengethegodscreatedamonster namedRudra,andithauntedPrajapati.Oncethemonstrouscreaturefoundhim,heshothimwithan arrowandkilledhim.IntheNorsecreationOdinwasthegodthatcreatedthehumans,butthegods didnotaccepthowhewasmakingthemYmir'ssistersespeciallydidnotagreewithOdin'sideaso theyplannedtogetrevengeonOdin.ThesistersgatheredatthefootoftheYggdrasilandcarved linesintoit,thelinesrepresentedhumanlivesandthetwistandturnsthathumansgothrough. Humanswouldneverbeaspowerful,notevenOdincouldfixthe

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Thethreethemespresentinthesetalesofcreationarechaos,sin,andtransformation.Fromthe beginningweseehowGodbringsordertochaos,notcreationoutofnothing.Chaosisthe primordialstateofexistenceinGreekmyth,andhence,thesestorieshaveanimmenseeffectonthe waypeoplethinkoftheuniverse.Chaoshasapervasivepresencenotonlyinthephysicalworldbut alsointhelivesandactionsofhumanbeingsasLycaon'scaserepresentsOviddescribedChaosas "ahugeagglomerationofupset".Byseparatingandtransformingmaterialobjectandlivingbeing, thecreatorgodimposesrationalorderonunrulymatter.Thus,transformationisanotherimportant themeinthesetalesofcreationThisshowsthattheGreco–Romancommunity

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TheCivilianCreationMyth

Thecreationofmanandtheworldisaquestionthathasresonatedsincetheconscienceofthought andanalysisbegan.Weashumanbeingshavethetendencytoseekoutthereasonsandtruthsofthe phenomenathatoccuraroundus,andourdesiretoachieveanswershasnothinderedourexploration ofhumanexistence.Weteaseourselvesbyaskingthemostsimplisticquestions:whyarewehere; howdidwecometobe;whocreatedourworld?Andasourmindsseekintotheunknownandforce ustodevelopthetheoriesofourorigins,thehumanhungerforreasonandtruthbegstodiffer. Storieshavecollectedthroughoutthegenerationsthathaveprecededus,anditstransitionfrom persontopersonfurthermoldedshowmorecontent

Tu,isthefiercefatherandgodofwar–spiritedhumans;Taneisthefatherandgodoftrees,birds, andinsects;Rongoisthefatherandgodofediblecultivatedplants;Tangaroaisthefatheroffish andseareptiles;Haumiaisthefatherandgodoffernrootandediblewildplants.Allfivechildren explainthevariousspeciesoflifeonearth.ThesamepatternisfoundintheBabyloniancreation mythInthismyth,thecharactersFatherApsuandMotherTiamathavechildren/grandchildren,one whocontrolstheheavens.Thesethreemythsexplainthemany"forces"thatexistinourworld. TheJapanese,Polynesian,andBabylonianmythsillustratesaworldcreatedfromamotherand fatherbeing.Thecharacterofthefatherisonethathasallpower,alldecision,andcontrols everythingandthefamily.Thecharacterofthemotherisdefinedasthecaretaker,andakey componentthatholdsthefamilytogetherAllthreemythsexhibitaformofcooperationwithinthe familytoachievenaturalharmony.Withoutone"child"theotherdoesnotsucceed,aphenomenon expressedinthePolynesianmythwhereallchildrentrytoescapefromthevoidwithintheirparents' attachmentThemother/fatherimageisimportanttobedistinguishedinthesethreemyths,andwork asandimportantfigureinitaswell.IntheJapanesecreationmyth,IzanamiandIzanagi

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CreationMyths

Creationmythsarethemostcommonformofmythologythroughoutmostoftheancientculturesof theworldandevolvedfromfirstanoralhistorypassedontothenextgenerationendingwith multipleversions.Mythologistshavecategorizedthesemythologiesfromthevariousandnumerous ancientculturesintofivetypes,whichincludeExNihilo,CreationfromChaos,WorldParent, EmergenceandEarth–DiverThecreationmythExNihilo,whichmeans"outofnothing"explains howtheworldalongwithmankindwerecreatedbyacreatorsspeech,duringadream,whebthey gavethebreathofliveortheirjusttheirthoughts.Allofthesemethodscanbefoundasthecreation storiesfromtheancientculturesthatlivedinAfrica,MesopotamiaandAsiashowmorecontent TheAvestatellshowtheirsupremegodnamedAhuraMazda,alsoknowasOrmazd,createsthe Earth,trees,plants,animalsandmankindinthecourseofsixperiodswitheachperiodlasting3,000 years.Inthebeginning,nothingelseexistedexceptforAhuraMazdawholivesinEndlessLight.

Mostofthemodernbiblicalscholarsbelievethatthereareclearlytwoversionsofthecreationstory thatexistinthechaptersofGenesis1through3intheOldTestament.Theseversionsappearto comefromthreedifferentauthorsorgroupsofauthorscalledtheJahwistsource,thePriestlysources andtheRedactorsource.WrittenbythePriestlysource,around450BC,thefirstversionbeginsin Genesis1:1–31andendsinGenesis2:1–3.Next,theJahwistsourcewritesthesecondversionin Genesis2:4–25,around950BC,withadditionalverseswritten,around750to400BC,bythe Redactorsource.Withallofthesedatesinmind,itwouldthenappearthatthefirstversionin Genesis1waswrittenatalaterdatethanGenesis2resultingwiththeversionfromGenesis2being thefirstversionAlso,noticethedifferencesbetweenthe2versionssuchasinGenesis1wherethe focusisontheentireuniverse,whereas,inGenesis2thefocusisonthecreationofmanandhis environment.

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Mythstillremainsoneofthemajorlinksthatmergesthedifferentculturesandreligionsfrom variousethnicities."TheCreationoftheTitansandtheGods",aswellas"TheCreation,Death,and RebirthoftheUniverse",areamongthemanycreationmythsthathighlightthesecombinations. Throughouthistory,mythshavecreatedvarioussimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthecultures andreligionsoftheworld

Man–thecommonprincipleinmyths,illustratesthatmanwasproducedexclusivelyforthe pleasureoftheGods.Sincethedawnofcivilizationtheexistenceofmythshadbeenrecordedand narratedinordertopraisetheGodsthathadblessedthemwithlifeMardukexplainsthathecreated ManwiththeGodstoassureadmiration...showmorecontent...

Thepassagefrom"EnumaElish"revealsthatwaterwasapreciouselementtotheBalbylonians;it wasdifficulttofindwaterbecausetheylivedinsuchdryandbarrenland.InBabylonianculture, TitmatbecametheEarth,whichliterallymadeher,MotherEarth,thereforemakingthelandand agricultureimportanttothecivilization"TheCreationoftheTitansandGods"showsthatthe peopleofGreecewereabundantinagriculturethankstoZeus;althoughMotherEarthandZeusare notthesame,theyhadthesamevalueinsocietyandthattheyhadcreatedthelandthepeoplelived on.Notonlyweretheland,waterandagricultureimportantinsociety,butalsothesocietyand structureitselfwasagrowingmatter.Themyth,"TheCreation,Death,andRebirthoftheUniverse" tellsofamessagethatwassentthroughoutthepeopleofIndiaabouttheirrollinsocietyInorderfor onetobethebestoftheirabilities,theymustworkwithintheirsocialcastandnotberemovedfrom saidplacing.InaChineseteaching,called"TheCreationoftheUniverseandHumanBeings",the peoplebelievedinthewealthyandthepoor;"ThepeoplewhomNuKuahadfashionedbyhand fromtherichyellowearthoftheriverbedwerehigh–born,wealthy,andintelligent.Butthepeople whohadfallenindropsfromherropewerelow–born,poor,commonfolk."Countlessofcreation mythsmakeuseoftheirtalestofurnishtheirevidentsocietyorcultureaperceptiveorreasoning

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KyleeBouse

CreationMythMotifEssay

Mrs.O'Brien

October23,2017

CreationMythMotifs

Inaclear,concise,andwell–organizedessay,Iwillanalyzethedifferentmotifsofthecreation mythsprocess,struggle,andorganicmaterial.Thedefinitionofamotifis"somethinginliterature wenoticerepeatedoverandoveragainIwillincludeampleevidencetoconcludethemythsthat includethesemotifs,whytheyusedthemandhowtheyusedthem.Inthefinalanalysis,Iwill concludewhyIenvisionthemotifs:struggle,process,andorganicmaterialarethethreemost importanttomeandwhy.

Motif#1:Struggle:Themotifofstrugglewasabloodystruggle,orthestrugglecalmtocreatethe earthIthinkthemotifstruggleisshowmorecontent

Rangi,thesky,andPapa,theEarth,werefinallyseparated.Theybecametheskyaboveandthe Earthbelowasweknownthemtoday.ThebloodfromRangibecametheredofthesunset,theblood fromPapabecamethered,clayland.Atlast,thelightcameintotheworldandthechildmovedto thefourcorners.Tawhirimateawasveryangrywithwhatwasdoneandtheangergrewinhimuntil hecouldn'tbearitanymoreTherefore,herippedouthiseyesandthrewthemintotheheavens,here theyturnedintothefirsttwostars.However,heturnedhisblindfuryonallofhisbrothers.Heblew hurricanes,tornadoes,cyclones,hemadetsunamisandhugestorms.Tawhirimateaangerhadno endPapaandRangiwereunhappy,theymissedeachothersomuchthattheycriedandcriedand cried.ThetearsfromRangibecomerivers,oceans,anddew.Papa'ssighingwithlonelinessisthe miststhatrisefromtheground.ThisiswhytheMaoricreationmythhadabloodystruggle. TheRigVedacreationhadabattle,abloodystruggle.Beforetherewasanythingtherewerethe primevalwaters.Theseaswerevast,deep,anddark.Alltherewas,wasNon–Being.However,the watersproducedasinglegoldeneggthatfloatedoverthewatersforninemonthsAfterthesenine months,theeggbustedopenandtherewasPrajapatistandingontheshell.Hewasneithermaleor femalebutwasanall–powerfulcombinationofboth.Foralmostayearherestedtherewithout

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CreationMythResearchPaper

Therearemanytheoriesoftheworld'screationfrommanyperson'sstandpointssincethebeginning oftime.Itisnotjustabouttheworld'screation,butmanyotherculturesandscientisthavebeen tryingtofigureoutthewholeofthenaturalworldsincethebeginningoftime.Bytakingmany differentstandpointstoseehowothersseetheworldandthecreation,orthefunction,ofthenatural worldTakingpeoplethroughmanyviewsfromthemanymythicalsocieties,throughpeoplewho werestartingtorealizethattheycanobservethingsscientificallyandfinallyendingatthescientific findingsofEvolutionandtheBigBangTheory.Acreationmythisanarrativeofhowtheworld beganandhowpeoplefirstcametoinhabititWhilein

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Mythstillremainsoneofthemajorlinksthatmergesthedifferentculturesandreligionsfrom variousethnicities."TheCreationoftheTitansandtheGods",aswellas"TheCreation,Death,and RebirthoftheUniverse",areamongthemanycreationmythsthathighlightthesecombinations. Throughouthistory,mythshavecreatedvarioussimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthecultures andreligionsoftheworld

Man–thecommonprincipleinmyths,illustratesthatmanwasproducedexclusivelyforthe pleasureoftheGods.Sincethedawnofcivilizationtheexistenceofmythshadbeenrecordedand narratedinordertopraisetheGodsthathadblessedthemwithlifeMardukexplainsthathecreated ManwiththeGodstoassureadmiration–...showmorecontent...

Intimehegrewup.NowwheneverhewalksaroundtheUnderworld,hecreatesearthquakesinthe upperworld."6Inconclusion,mythhasbeenusingmanydistinctivetypesofwidespreadthemes thatmergescience,religion,andculture,bindingthosecivilizations,whichareatypicalfromaround theworld;theysetacustomaryconsigninwhichculturescaninterminglewithparallelmotifs, ideologies,andvalues.Inallthecreationmythsthatwereinterpret,analogousthemesandmotifs couldbewellknown,screeningthatmythbondstheculturesandreligionsfromaroundthe humankindinarelatedfashion.