Creation myth
A creation myth is a specific type of myth which tells how the universe, the Earth, life, and/or humanity came into being. The term myth is used for a story with deep explanatory or symbolic resonance for a culture. The story need not be a literal account of actual events, but it may express what are perceived to be truths at a deeper level.
Many creation myths fall into similar categories: the fractionation of the things of the world from a primordial chaos, the separation of the mother and father god, from an ocean existing before the world, etc.
Traditional creation myths of various cultures:
- The first book of the Bible, common to Judaism and Christianity, contains two versions of creation: one from Genesis 1 and one from Genesis 2. According to the Documentary hypothesis, these two creation myths come from two different authors, identified as J and P.
- In the first account, authored by P, (starting in Genesis 1:1) the world in the beginning is a great body of water. God then produces over a period of six days the sky, stars, the sun and moon, land, plants, animals. Finally on the sixth day he creates human beings. On the seventh day he rests. At each stage God declares the creation 'good', but following the creation of human beings the creation is declared 'very good'. Creation order: Day 1: heaven and earth; waters; light; Day 2: heaven; Day 3: earth; grass; trees; herbs; Day 4: sun; moon; stars; Day 5: sea creatures; birds; Day 6: land creatures; cattle; man and woman.
- The second account, authored by J, (starting in Genesis 2:4) concentrates on the creation of human beings; first a man, Adam, is created out of dust, then a woman, Eve, is created from Adam's rib. However, the creation order is different. 2:4: earth and heavens; 2:5 plants; 2:7: man; 2:8: garden of Eden; 2:9: trees; 2:19: beasts of the field; 2:21 woman.
- Islam - The account in the Qur'an has only one creation story. It is based on the Biblical version (Man created from water: Surah al-Furqan 25; Man created in diverse stages: Surah Nuh 14; Man created from clay: Surah as-Saffat 11, Surah al-Sajdah 7-9; Man created from scum: Surah al-Hijr 15)
- Egyptian - In the beginning was only ocean. Then a hill became visible rising from the ocean, and at this point the first god awoke (The cosmology of Heliopolis held that this first god was the sun god Ra, that of Memphis that it was the earth god Ptah). The first god began to create other gods, who proceeded to create the various aspects of the world.
- Japanese - In the beginning was only ocean. The god Izanagi and goddess Izanami used a spear to form the island of Japan from mud from the ocean's bottom, settled on the land, and their children became the people of Japan.
- Zoroastrianism - Ahura Mazda created 16 lands, one by one, such that each would be delightful to its people. As he finished each one, Angra Mainyu applied a counter-creation, introducing plague and sin of various kinds.
- The Maya of Mesoamerica creation story is recounted in the book "Popol Vuh". The Gods made a number of attempts to create intelligent beings who would pay them homage until finally succeeding by fashioning man out of maize-corn dough.
Creation myths can be considered literally (i.e.: the events highlighted occurred as told) or as an allegory (the events did not occur, however, the telling of the tale holds important meanings, such as 'God created the universe and everything in it' for Genesis 1).
In the USA, religiously conservative Christians argue that the Big Bang theory and Darwinian macroevolution constitute the creation myth of modern Western civilization. Adherents of these scientific theories respond that unlike the creation myths of earlier cultures, they are subject to verification and refinement by the scientific method, rather than believed only on grounds of authority and faith.
See also: Creation, Creationism, Cosmology