CREATION MYTHS

1
CREATION MYTHS
2
(No Transcript)
3
Creation Myths explain the creation of the
world/universe

• The myth can be personal or impersonal, linear or
  cyclical
• Personal speaks of a specific god like Gaea
• Impersonal some great force like chaos
• Linear creation to life and death
• Cyclical creation to death to creation again
• Chaos can be the enemy or the source of creation
• The world can be created of nothing, of matter
  existing earth or water, of self part of a god
  or being
• The creative act can be solitary single god or
  communal group of gods, sexual or asexual

4
Creation Myths establish a model of the creative
process

• Creation can come from firmament as in
  Gilgamesh / Endiku Genesis man from Earth
• Creation via separation Genesis woman created
  by separation of rib from Adam
• From Chaos Hymn of the Sun Genesis

Michael Angelo
5
Creation Myths Build up a world-view, a hierarchy
of values, "first things first"

• In Genesis god is male, the first human is male
  and the female is derivative.
• In Plato's Symposium there is an evolution from
  unity to diversity and back towards unity.
  Aristophanes story of Androgeny humans
  originally had 2 heads, 4 legs and 4 arms and
  were very powerful. They were sexually she/she,
  he/he/ or she/he. Zeus was afraid humans were too
  powerful thus cut them in half. Thus, we are all
  looking for our other half explains sexual
  preference.
• In many Goddess stories, creation comes from the
  female Goddess, then female humans, then last of
  all male humans. Sometimes the male God is
  entirely absent or he can be a rotating consort
  Greeks Gaea is mother Earth, Theogony

6
In Creation Myths, sexuality is often linked to
salvation or shame

• In Genesis we have both be prosperous and
  multiply as well as sex fall, fault, shame.
  Covering of nakedness sexuality is desacralized
  and disconnected from the fertility of the earth.
• Gilgamesh sexuality civilization but
  innocence is lost Endiku becomes civilized
  through sexuality but loses connection with the
  wild beasts
• In Plato's Symposium, sexuality is linked to our
  original unity, Aristophanes tale of Androgeny

7
Apache Creation
Shows a mother goddess giving birth to man and
providing the waters for a fertile earth.
8
Creation Myths explain how and why bad things
happen

• Genesis The description of the Fall tells us who
  to blame as well as the first murder Cain
  Abel and the flood Noah establish right vs.
  wrong
• Gilgamesh the killing of bull and its
  repercussions death of Endiku
• Coyote stories of the Native Americans blame
  Coyote a sometimes dangerous but comic figure
  who is somewhere between the gods and humans.
  Coyotes wife died and he was told he could
  reclaim her if he didnt touch her. But poor
  coyote could not resist trying to touch her and
  thus death for everyone means we cannot see, hear
  or touch those who have died.

9
Creation Myths show patterns of divine/human
interaction and establish ethics models

• The Genesis myth sanctifies obedience.
• Man must obey Gods will or suffer punishment
• The Prometheus myth sanctifies rebellion.
• Because Prometheus disobeyed Zeus, man has fire
  and can survive.
• Gilgamesh sanctifies balance
• Gilgamesh not a good ruler until her is both
  powerful and compassionate.
• Hymn to the Sun sanctifies Akenaten
• Hymn establishes Akenaten as true ruler as he is
  the son of God.

10
(No Transcript)