CREATION MYTHS

STORIES THAT EXPLAIN LIFE, THE

UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING
 CREATION MYTHS
• Asking questions, looking for
answers
• Origins of humanity, th Earth,
animals, plants, and other elements
of nature
• Cultures invent stories to make
sense of the world for their times
COMMON THEMES
• Creation Myths from around the world have some similar
themes.
• Modern scholars have observed these themes.
• Individual myths do not exactly fit with modern
stereotypes.
• Each creation myth contains several common thematic
features.
• We will examine interesting similarities and differences.
 COMMON ELEMENTS:
CREATION/GEOGRAPHY
• Beginnings
• Often a jumbled mass of
components which serve
as the first elements of
life
• Formation of the Gods
• Male or Female gods give
birth to children
• Natural
• Unusual
• Explanations for the
formation of mountains,
valleys, oceans, rivers, etc.
 COMMON ELEMENTS:
GENEALOGY

• First gods born did not always

create the world.
• Often, their children decided to
fill the world with life.
• Creates a hierarchy.
 COMMON ELEMENTS:
SUPREME BEINGS

• Polytheistic
• Monotheistic
 COMMON ELEMENTS:
CREATION OF HUMANITY

• Created by a god or
supernatural being
• Establishes:
• links between humanity beings and
the supernatural world
• continues the hierarchy
 COMMON ELEMENTS:
ANIMAL/HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

• Animals played key roles in many

Creation Myths
• Sometimes viewed as equal to
humans
• often reflect feelings of culture for
animals
• Account for the existence of the
forms of life that inhabit the
planet.
• Might explain physical
characteristics of the animals.
 OTHER COMMON
ELEMENTS:
NIGHT, FEAR, FIRE, INSTRUCTION, SIN,
CONSEQUENCES
• Night & Fear
• the setting of the sun brought on
fear and chaos
• Instruction & Fire
• Divine tutoring
• Fire: Dual Nature
• Sin & Consequences
• Brings pain, suffering, illness, etc.
into the world
CREATION MYTHS

• Humankind continues to answer origin questions.

• For some, scientific evidence serves as a basis for
creation stories
• For others, deeply rooted ancient beliefs remain the
cornerstone in their own theories