Click here for a study guide on Unit 1.
There will be a test on Unit 1, Friday, February 9. You will be responsible for the reading assignments listed under Unit 1 on the syllabus as well as any class discussions and/or notes given on these assignments.
The creation stories covered on the test will be the ones from the handout. All other reading assignments are in the textbook.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
Science and religion
Science and religion both have meaningful values, but will always be at odds. Science is based on concrete evidence and facts. Evidence and facts are tested until proven reliable and true. It is also a naturalistic process and can only answer questions about what is inside nature. Beyond that is a matter based on a person's religious beliefs. Some beliefs offer a level of understanding that is not offered anywhere else. There are many different beliefs concerning science and religion that makes us think that the two will never reconcil. For example, scientific facts and a religious person's belief about evolution are totally opposite. No matter what the future holds for us, there will always be some kind of conflict between the two.
Kyle Boswell, Brandon Young, Lindsey Bratcher
Kyle Boswell, Brandon Young, Lindsey Bratcher
Similarities in Creation Stories: Muslim Perspective
Group 3:
Janna, Daisy, Curtis
Similarities in Creation Stories: Muslim Perspective
Our group chose to answer this question from Muslim points of view, who believe in “Divine Revelation and not Human Speculation”. The Muslim people believe that western people are a product of evolution and live with no purpose. They also believe that Allah created man, they, the Muslims get there ideals from the Qur’an and Sunnah (a book of prophetic traditions). The Muslims believe that the idea of creation in other people’s views is similar because of ignorance. They believe that other people “couldn't grasp the idea of creation from nothingness”. They believe that all societies are similar because “inside each and every atom is Allah”. This means, from there view point, that everyone has apart of the Muslim belief in them.
Janna, Daisy, Curtis
Similarities in Creation Stories: Muslim Perspective
Our group chose to answer this question from Muslim points of view, who believe in “Divine Revelation and not Human Speculation”. The Muslim people believe that western people are a product of evolution and live with no purpose. They also believe that Allah created man, they, the Muslims get there ideals from the Qur’an and Sunnah (a book of prophetic traditions). The Muslims believe that the idea of creation in other people’s views is similar because of ignorance. They believe that other people “couldn't grasp the idea of creation from nothingness”. They believe that all societies are similar because “inside each and every atom is Allah”. This means, from there view point, that everyone has apart of the Muslim belief in them.
There whole essence is that the purpose of live it to realize that we have a part of Allah inside ourselves. Becoming one with Allah, returning back to Allah in this sense. But this is in fact part of the teachings of shirk. Shaytan (Satan) has deluded man into this imagination. It is part of the belief of the Hindus. Nirvana, the concept that when you die, you are reborn again, and you move up in stages, each time, if you are a good boy or good girl, you go up higher and higher, until you get to the top. You know you have reached the peak, because when you die the next time you become one with the universal soul, Nirvana. That is the end of rebirth. So your whole purpose is to return and become one with God again. This is all, as I said, a product of the inability to understand the concept of creation from nothingness, which is unique to Allah.
An anthropolgist's perspective on myths..
According to some anthropologists, a myth is structured--like language. In order to have a myth, people have to talk or write about certain events. These stories have structure and relation. Language, of course, has structure and relation--like verbs and direct objects. According to Levi-Strauss,
"Myth shares with language the following characteristics:
1. It's made of units that are put together according to certain rules.
2. These units form relations with each other, based on binary pairs or opposites, which provide the basis of the structure."
A myth must be somehow communicated to others in order to exist. Myths are communicated by their structure. According to Levi-Strauss,
"However, the layers, or "slates," aren't identical, even though they repeat key elements in the structure. Because of this, the myth "grows spiralwise," meaning the story it tells unfolds as the myth goes on. In other words, the myth "grows" as it is told; Levi-Strauss points out that this growth is continuous, while the structure of the myth, which doesn't grow, is discontinuous"
This could account for the similarities between the creation stories of different cultures. One culture may have spread the word of its creation to another, and the other culture may have adopted some of the other's story as its own. This link can help explain the structure of myth compared to the structure of language. Levi-Strauss believes that although the content of the myths may widely vary, their similarities are directly linked to the structure that myths have to follow.
Also, some anthropologists believe it is the wiring of the brain that creates certain stories. The similarities between the creation stories can be due to the processes of the human brain. For example, the flood story or the representation of the flood story in many cultures removes the evil from the world. This could be something the brain has embedded inside that tells us that evil is bad and should be put away.
So, since myths are structured and our minds can conceive similar ideas, it is easy to see how myths from different cultures can be so much alike.
Lindsey Bratcher, Brandon Young, Kyle Boswell
"Myth shares with language the following characteristics:
1. It's made of units that are put together according to certain rules.
2. These units form relations with each other, based on binary pairs or opposites, which provide the basis of the structure."
A myth must be somehow communicated to others in order to exist. Myths are communicated by their structure. According to Levi-Strauss,
"However, the layers, or "slates," aren't identical, even though they repeat key elements in the structure. Because of this, the myth "grows spiralwise," meaning the story it tells unfolds as the myth goes on. In other words, the myth "grows" as it is told; Levi-Strauss points out that this growth is continuous, while the structure of the myth, which doesn't grow, is discontinuous"
This could account for the similarities between the creation stories of different cultures. One culture may have spread the word of its creation to another, and the other culture may have adopted some of the other's story as its own. This link can help explain the structure of myth compared to the structure of language. Levi-Strauss believes that although the content of the myths may widely vary, their similarities are directly linked to the structure that myths have to follow.
Also, some anthropologists believe it is the wiring of the brain that creates certain stories. The similarities between the creation stories can be due to the processes of the human brain. For example, the flood story or the representation of the flood story in many cultures removes the evil from the world. This could be something the brain has embedded inside that tells us that evil is bad and should be put away.
So, since myths are structured and our minds can conceive similar ideas, it is easy to see how myths from different cultures can be so much alike.
Lindsey Bratcher, Brandon Young, Kyle Boswell
Fundamental and Liberal Christians.
Robin Burkhalter, Kristin Meadows, Brian Dill
Fundamental Christianity and the more liberal or mainstream Christianity divide when it comes to the belief in how and when the the world was created.
A Fundamentalist would likely point to the Bible for his answer, referring to Genesis and its account of all humankind having a common ancestry in the the personages of Adam and Eve. Since the entire human race began with them, it is understandable that the many different culture's various accounts of history are similar. Also, because the story was passed down orally from generation to generation, it is safe to assume that, over time, some aspects of the story of Creation were either distorted and recreated, or lost altogether.
On the other hand, a more liberal Christian would more than likely side with the scientific account of the origins of the world and mankind. Some liberalists believe that everything began with God, though not necessarily in the order or according to the timeline given in the Book of Genesis. There is open criticism in this camp of the fundamentalist's literal interpretation of the Creation story - the majority believing the account in Genesis as only a philosophical allegory written by Moses to give some sort of explanation as to how God created everything. A smaller minority believe this to be a myth fabricated by the Levitical priest in order to control the Jewish people. Still others believe that the story was written more in order to establish belief in polytheism (one God creating the world), and combat the contrary belief in creation by multiple gods.
Whatever their opinions as to the origins of the story, liberalists all seem to agree that the earth and all that's in it was not created in a seven day period, but rather through the evolutionary process. Their explanation as to the similarities in the many different culture's creation accounts would be more in line with scientific reasoning. This scientific approach of explaining the common "variations of the same theme" is based on a theory put forth by Carl Jung called "Collective Unconscious". In short, it is a hypothesis that there is a part of our brain that seems to retain certain information that is commonly shared by all humans. This information is somehow passed along from generation to generation, accounting for many different cultures similarities - ranging from the formation of social orders to the need for religion.
We believe, personally, that if God is the author of science, that the two must one day agree. We also think that as we receive more information about the world around us that we will eventually have to believe in either one or the other in accordance with the evidence.
Whether scientific belief or religious belief can be reconciled is another thing altogether. Most evolutionists do not want to believe in a God, whereas a religious person would rather believe there is one. One may seem to have more evidence than the other, but people usually see what they want to see.
At odds though they may be, we do believe that they both can and have contributed to the good of society.
Fundamental Christianity and the more liberal or mainstream Christianity divide when it comes to the belief in how and when the the world was created.
A Fundamentalist would likely point to the Bible for his answer, referring to Genesis and its account of all humankind having a common ancestry in the the personages of Adam and Eve. Since the entire human race began with them, it is understandable that the many different culture's various accounts of history are similar. Also, because the story was passed down orally from generation to generation, it is safe to assume that, over time, some aspects of the story of Creation were either distorted and recreated, or lost altogether.
On the other hand, a more liberal Christian would more than likely side with the scientific account of the origins of the world and mankind. Some liberalists believe that everything began with God, though not necessarily in the order or according to the timeline given in the Book of Genesis. There is open criticism in this camp of the fundamentalist's literal interpretation of the Creation story - the majority believing the account in Genesis as only a philosophical allegory written by Moses to give some sort of explanation as to how God created everything. A smaller minority believe this to be a myth fabricated by the Levitical priest in order to control the Jewish people. Still others believe that the story was written more in order to establish belief in polytheism (one God creating the world), and combat the contrary belief in creation by multiple gods.
Whatever their opinions as to the origins of the story, liberalists all seem to agree that the earth and all that's in it was not created in a seven day period, but rather through the evolutionary process. Their explanation as to the similarities in the many different culture's creation accounts would be more in line with scientific reasoning. This scientific approach of explaining the common "variations of the same theme" is based on a theory put forth by Carl Jung called "Collective Unconscious". In short, it is a hypothesis that there is a part of our brain that seems to retain certain information that is commonly shared by all humans. This information is somehow passed along from generation to generation, accounting for many different cultures similarities - ranging from the formation of social orders to the need for religion.
We believe, personally, that if God is the author of science, that the two must one day agree. We also think that as we receive more information about the world around us that we will eventually have to believe in either one or the other in accordance with the evidence.
Whether scientific belief or religious belief can be reconciled is another thing altogether. Most evolutionists do not want to believe in a God, whereas a religious person would rather believe there is one. One may seem to have more evidence than the other, but people usually see what they want to see.
At odds though they may be, we do believe that they both can and have contributed to the good of society.
Group 2, Islam
After researching the Islam religion, we think they believe that so many creation stories are simliar because they believe everyone came from Adam and "Hawwa" (Eve) as read from the Qu'ran. "Oh humankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honoured among you in the sight of Allah is the who is the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquinted (with all things)' (49:13). The Islam's teaches that human beings are a unique life form that was created by Allah in a speical way, with unique gifts and abilities unlike any other: a soul and conscience, knowledge, and free will. So therefore we think that they would believe that since humans have free will and knowledge that they branched out from just believing what the Qur'an says. The Islamic people would probably believe that the reason humans branched out from the Qu'ran was because they were corrupted.
We have also found that many of the Islam beliefs fall in place with scientific theory. The Qu'ran describes that Allah "made from water every living thing" (21:30). Another verse describes how "Allah has created every animal from water. Of them are some that creep on thier bellies, some that walk on two legs, and some that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills, for truly Allah has power over all things"(24:45). These verses support the scientific theory that life began in the Earth's oceans. The Qu'ran also coinsides with the Big Bang Theory. The Qu'ran says that "the heavens and the earth were joined together as one unit, before We clove them asunder"(21:30). Following this big explosion, Allah "turned to the sky, and it had been (as) smoke. He said to it and to the earth: 'Come together, willingly or unwillingly.' They said: 'We come (together) in willing obedience" (41:11). Thus the elements and what was to become the planets and stars began to cool, come together, and form into shape, following the natural laws that Allah established in the universe.
Allah made every living thing from water, but considered humans to be special creatures and made them from clay. He created Adam first, and then Eve so that man could have a companion. Adam and Eve then became the ancestors for humankind, and since humans had knowledge and free will they ended up branching out from the Qu'ran and Allah. Thus, becomes the different reiligons of today, but still their beilefs are similar to those of the Islamic faith.
Stacy Therrell
Erica Gillie
Cheryl Jordan
We have also found that many of the Islam beliefs fall in place with scientific theory. The Qu'ran describes that Allah "made from water every living thing" (21:30). Another verse describes how "Allah has created every animal from water. Of them are some that creep on thier bellies, some that walk on two legs, and some that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills, for truly Allah has power over all things"(24:45). These verses support the scientific theory that life began in the Earth's oceans. The Qu'ran also coinsides with the Big Bang Theory. The Qu'ran says that "the heavens and the earth were joined together as one unit, before We clove them asunder"(21:30). Following this big explosion, Allah "turned to the sky, and it had been (as) smoke. He said to it and to the earth: 'Come together, willingly or unwillingly.' They said: 'We come (together) in willing obedience" (41:11). Thus the elements and what was to become the planets and stars began to cool, come together, and form into shape, following the natural laws that Allah established in the universe.
Allah made every living thing from water, but considered humans to be special creatures and made them from clay. He created Adam first, and then Eve so that man could have a companion. Adam and Eve then became the ancestors for humankind, and since humans had knowledge and free will they ended up branching out from the Qu'ran and Allah. Thus, becomes the different reiligons of today, but still their beilefs are similar to those of the Islamic faith.
Stacy Therrell
Erica Gillie
Cheryl Jordan
Calvinism
Why are so many creation stories so smiliar?
A Calvinist would say that God predestined everyone at the beginning of time. This means that only certain "elect" people were elected for salvation. The "elect" make up the Calvinist Church.
Now to answer the question: Over the years the influence of Calvinism in creation stories has been heard all over the world. The "elect" people and "non-elect" people have similar stories, but they also differ. They differ because the "elect" are predestined by God. While, the "non-elect" people are not predestined. They are similar because many people, the "elect and "non-elect," have retold these stories to one another. This is the point where all the similarities begin to show.
There are many views to Christian Predestination.
1. Conditional Predestination- Believes that freedom of choice is given to all; Therefore, God predestines on the basis of the foreknowledge of how some will respond to his universal love.
2. Temporal Predestination- God only determines temporal matters, not eternal ones.
3. Sublapsarianism- This means that God predestined sinful men for salvation.
A lot of religions believe in predestination or a "divine plan."
Here are a few:
1. Calvinism- As mentioned above, Calvinists believe that God predestined everyone at the beginning of time.
2. Baptists- They believe that God has a purpose for everyone. God predestined that every saved believer will be made in His image. Predestination makes certain that the believer stays saved and accomplishes the eternal purpose of God.
3. Islam- Muslims have a strong view toward predestination. Allah, knows and ordains whatever comes to pass.
Tracy Field, Jennifer Hyatt, Sarah Sumrall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predestination
A Calvinist would say that God predestined everyone at the beginning of time. This means that only certain "elect" people were elected for salvation. The "elect" make up the Calvinist Church.
Now to answer the question: Over the years the influence of Calvinism in creation stories has been heard all over the world. The "elect" people and "non-elect" people have similar stories, but they also differ. They differ because the "elect" are predestined by God. While, the "non-elect" people are not predestined. They are similar because many people, the "elect and "non-elect," have retold these stories to one another. This is the point where all the similarities begin to show.
There are many views to Christian Predestination.
1. Conditional Predestination- Believes that freedom of choice is given to all; Therefore, God predestines on the basis of the foreknowledge of how some will respond to his universal love.
2. Temporal Predestination- God only determines temporal matters, not eternal ones.
3. Sublapsarianism- This means that God predestined sinful men for salvation.
A lot of religions believe in predestination or a "divine plan."
Here are a few:
1. Calvinism- As mentioned above, Calvinists believe that God predestined everyone at the beginning of time.
2. Baptists- They believe that God has a purpose for everyone. God predestined that every saved believer will be made in His image. Predestination makes certain that the believer stays saved and accomplishes the eternal purpose of God.
3. Islam- Muslims have a strong view toward predestination. Allah, knows and ordains whatever comes to pass.
Tracy Field, Jennifer Hyatt, Sarah Sumrall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predestination
Creation Story Simularities
Why do so many creation stories from so many diferent parts of the world contain such similar themes and motifs? How would a Buddhist asnwer this question? It would probably be hard for a Buddhist to answer this question because they believe there is no beginning or end. According to Buddhism, "eternity means being neither created nor adorned but remaining in the original existence." Since they believe that we were neither created nor adorned, that means that life itself is not something that can be grasped through our five senses.
A buddhist would probably think that creation stories are just stories that people made up. They would probably say all the creation stories were similiar because they were all made up and each creation story took something from another creation story that was made up before it. Since buddhist believe there is no beginning or end, it would just about be impossible for them to believe in a creation story.
A Buddhist might also say that the creations stories are so similiar because all of the cultures are connected in some way. They may believe that the creator is in everything and everything is in the creator. They may think that everyone around the world were created (or not created) in the same way. Because they think that everything has just always been, they pobably would say that is why all the creation stories are so similiar.
Krista Walley, Nicole Baker, Ashley Jones, Enotris Armstrong
A buddhist would probably think that creation stories are just stories that people made up. They would probably say all the creation stories were similiar because they were all made up and each creation story took something from another creation story that was made up before it. Since buddhist believe there is no beginning or end, it would just about be impossible for them to believe in a creation story.
A Buddhist might also say that the creations stories are so similiar because all of the cultures are connected in some way. They may believe that the creator is in everything and everything is in the creator. They may think that everyone around the world were created (or not created) in the same way. Because they think that everything has just always been, they pobably would say that is why all the creation stories are so similiar.
Krista Walley, Nicole Baker, Ashley Jones, Enotris Armstrong
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Presentations
Sign up sheets for presentations days and topics are posted in the classroom. Please follow these basic requirements for your presentation.
10-12 minutes for groups of 3.
12-15 minutes for groups of 4.
Each person in the group should have a speaking part, and job of preparing for the presentation should be divided equally.
Prepare as part of the presentations either handouts or a visual aid such as a PowerPoint presentation.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Discussion Assignment for Week 3
We're going to stick with creation stories as we move forward into discussing a variety of religious texts from around the world. Thus, I'd like for each group to address one central question--Why do so many creation stories from so many different parts of the world contain such similar themes and motifs?
We're going to apply some of our new readings to this question and do a little research on it as well. Groups should choose one particular approach from which to answer this question.
How would a Jungian psychologist explain the answer?
How would an anthropologist explain the answer?
How would a Buddhist answer?
How would Hindu answer?
How would a fundamentalist Christian answer, and how would this differ from a more liberal Christian?
How would a philosopher answer? (pick your philosophy)
What historical or archaeological evidence do we have to explain the answer?
This will require a little research and a little academic analysis. As a follow up, however, I'd like the groups to address another question just as a matter of opinion--Can science and religion be reconciled? Are academic explanations for things and religious explanations always going to be at odds, or is it possible for the two to both have something of value to add without conflicting too much with one another?
Helpful Links
Beliefs and Practices of Various Faiths
Structural Anthropology and Myth
Due Dates
Group posts due Friday, January 26.
Individual responses due Friday, February 2.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Creation Story Part 1 Group 3
Daisy, Janna, and Curtis
Our group chose the Mayan Creation Story:
Characteristics found in this creation story:
Life began as two people, Tepeu and Gucumatz, sat together and thought about things. They first thought about the earth and it came into being, mountains and they come into form, trees, sky and animals. Tepu and Gucumatz wanted someone to worship and praise them so they made creatures out of clay. These creatures fell apart when wet so they made creatures out of wood. These were very troublesome people so the god. Sent a flood and wiped them out. This time when they remade the people, the mountain lion, coyote, parrot, and crow helped so they became their ancestors. Tepeu and Gucamatz wanted to be worshiped so they created “humans” making them the higher power. Because these beings misbehaved they were flooded out and destroyed saying that it is not ok to do badly. These creatures that they created worshiped them and praised them so they belonged.
Comparison and Contrast to the Christian Story:
This story is similar to the flood story in the Bible. In the Bible God destroyed the world, because the people where living in sin. The way that they are different is that the God didn’t recreate people; he put them on a big ship. They are also different in the fact that the people that God saved didn’t worship the animals as the people that Tepeu and Gucumatz created after they flooded the world.
Our group chose the Mayan Creation Story:
Characteristics found in this creation story:
Life began as two people, Tepeu and Gucumatz, sat together and thought about things. They first thought about the earth and it came into being, mountains and they come into form, trees, sky and animals. Tepu and Gucumatz wanted someone to worship and praise them so they made creatures out of clay. These creatures fell apart when wet so they made creatures out of wood. These were very troublesome people so the god. Sent a flood and wiped them out. This time when they remade the people, the mountain lion, coyote, parrot, and crow helped so they became their ancestors. Tepeu and Gucamatz wanted to be worshiped so they created “humans” making them the higher power. Because these beings misbehaved they were flooded out and destroyed saying that it is not ok to do badly. These creatures that they created worshiped them and praised them so they belonged.
Comparison and Contrast to the Christian Story:
This story is similar to the flood story in the Bible. In the Bible God destroyed the world, because the people where living in sin. The way that they are different is that the God didn’t recreate people; he put them on a big ship. They are also different in the fact that the people that God saved didn’t worship the animals as the people that Tepeu and Gucumatz created after they flooded the world.
Part 1, Group 4
Sarah Sumrall, Brian Dill, Robin Burkhalter, Kayla Williams
Our group chose the Japanese Creation Myth:
1) Explain how life began. Heaven and Earth were not divided. Then a reed grew out of the ocean of chaos. This reed became the eternal land ruler, Kunitokotachi. He created a female Goddess, Izanami, and a male God, Izanagi. Together, they stood on the floating bridge of Heaven and stirred the ocean of chaos with a jeweled spear. It curdled and created the first island, Onokoro. Izanami gave birth to eight islands of Japan.
2) Explain why things are the way they are in nature.
Izanagi through down his comb and it turned into Bamboo shoots.
3)Establish a belief in a higher power.
They believe in Izanagi, Izanami, Kunitokotatchi, and Ebisu.
4) Establish a moral code of conduct.
5) Provide a sense of purpose and order of life.
Izanagi said that every day one thousand five hundred babies will be born.
Compare and Contrast to Christianity:
1) There is belief in a higher power.
2) Christians believe in one creator; Japanese believe in multiple creators.
3) Japanese believe their Gods created only Japan; whereas, Christians believe their God created the world.
4) In both, the Gods' children were a major part in their belief.
Our group chose the Japanese Creation Myth:
1) Explain how life began. Heaven and Earth were not divided. Then a reed grew out of the ocean of chaos. This reed became the eternal land ruler, Kunitokotachi. He created a female Goddess, Izanami, and a male God, Izanagi. Together, they stood on the floating bridge of Heaven and stirred the ocean of chaos with a jeweled spear. It curdled and created the first island, Onokoro. Izanami gave birth to eight islands of Japan.
2) Explain why things are the way they are in nature.
Izanagi through down his comb and it turned into Bamboo shoots.
3)Establish a belief in a higher power.
They believe in Izanagi, Izanami, Kunitokotatchi, and Ebisu.
4) Establish a moral code of conduct.
5) Provide a sense of purpose and order of life.
Izanagi said that every day one thousand five hundred babies will be born.
Compare and Contrast to Christianity:
1) There is belief in a higher power.
2) Christians believe in one creator; Japanese believe in multiple creators.
3) Japanese believe their Gods created only Japan; whereas, Christians believe their God created the world.
4) In both, the Gods' children were a major part in their belief.
Australian Creation Story - Group 1
Australian Creation Story Discussion
There are five main characteristics of creation stories. They are as follows: 1. To explain how life began, 2. To explain why things are the way they are in nature, 3. To establish a belief in a higher power, 4. To establish a moral code of conduct, and 5. They provide a sense of purpose and order for life.
1. How life began: In the beginning the earth was bare and plain. There was no life. The sun, moon, and stars slept beneath the earth with all the eternal ancestors. One day, the eternal ancestors broke through to the surface. They arose in dreamtime and wandered the earth, sometimes in anial form, sometimes in human shape, sometimes part human and animal, and sometimes part human and plant.
Two such beings, self-created out of nothing, were the Ungambikula. They wandered the earth and found half-made human beings. They were made of plants and animals and were shapeless bundles. The Ungambikula carved heads, bodies, legs, and arms out of the bundles and made faces, hands, and feet. That is how every man and woman was transfomed.
After the eternal ancestors were done with their work, the went back to sleep. Some went back underground and some became trees and rocks. Everywhere the ancestors went, they left traces of their presence in rocks, waterholes, and trees.
2. Why things are the way they are in nature: Rocks, trees, and other things in nature are from the ancestors who went back to sleep.
3. Belief in a higher power: The higher power in the Australian creation story would be and Ungambikula and the eternal ancestors.
4. A moral code of conduct: People should have allegiance to nature.
5. Provide a sense or purpose and order to life: They provided a sense of order to life by creating it. Before the carved the humans out of the bundles of nothing, there was no life.
Before God created anything on earth, it was dark and without void, just like before the Ungambikula awoke and created the humans in the Australian story, it was dark. God created everything, and when the Ungambikula awoke, somethings were already created. God created us out of dirt, and the Ungambikula created humans out of half-made humans. When the eternal ancestors were done with their work, they went back to sleep and God is still here with us. The eternal ancestors left sacred traces of their presence and we also have God's sacred presence with us. God was one and their were two Ungambikula who created the Australians.
Krista Walley, Enotris Armstrong, Ashley Jones, Nicole Baker
There are five main characteristics of creation stories. They are as follows: 1. To explain how life began, 2. To explain why things are the way they are in nature, 3. To establish a belief in a higher power, 4. To establish a moral code of conduct, and 5. They provide a sense of purpose and order for life.
1. How life began: In the beginning the earth was bare and plain. There was no life. The sun, moon, and stars slept beneath the earth with all the eternal ancestors. One day, the eternal ancestors broke through to the surface. They arose in dreamtime and wandered the earth, sometimes in anial form, sometimes in human shape, sometimes part human and animal, and sometimes part human and plant.
Two such beings, self-created out of nothing, were the Ungambikula. They wandered the earth and found half-made human beings. They were made of plants and animals and were shapeless bundles. The Ungambikula carved heads, bodies, legs, and arms out of the bundles and made faces, hands, and feet. That is how every man and woman was transfomed.
After the eternal ancestors were done with their work, the went back to sleep. Some went back underground and some became trees and rocks. Everywhere the ancestors went, they left traces of their presence in rocks, waterholes, and trees.
2. Why things are the way they are in nature: Rocks, trees, and other things in nature are from the ancestors who went back to sleep.
3. Belief in a higher power: The higher power in the Australian creation story would be and Ungambikula and the eternal ancestors.
4. A moral code of conduct: People should have allegiance to nature.
5. Provide a sense or purpose and order to life: They provided a sense of order to life by creating it. Before the carved the humans out of the bundles of nothing, there was no life.
Before God created anything on earth, it was dark and without void, just like before the Ungambikula awoke and created the humans in the Australian story, it was dark. God created everything, and when the Ungambikula awoke, somethings were already created. God created us out of dirt, and the Ungambikula created humans out of half-made humans. When the eternal ancestors were done with their work, they went back to sleep and God is still here with us. The eternal ancestors left sacred traces of their presence and we also have God's sacred presence with us. God was one and their were two Ungambikula who created the Australians.
Krista Walley, Enotris Armstrong, Ashley Jones, Nicole Baker
Creation Stories
The Ainu creation story
- Explain how life began
In the Ainu creation story, before there was life the world was a quagmire where nothing could live. The world was a watery place resting on the back of a trout--all of which was created by the creator god Kamui. One day Kamui decided that he would make something of this watery world, and he sent a water wagtail to create dry patches of land. These patches of land became islands. Once the animals who lived in the heavens saw the world Kamui had created, they begged Kamui to live on it. Kamui let them live on it, but he also created many other creatures--such as the first people--to dwell on the world as well.
- Explain why things are the way they are
When Kamui made the world a vast round ocean, he made it resting on the backbone of an enormous trout. This trout sucks in the ocean and then spits it out creating the tides. When it moves, it causes earthquakes. Back when the world first began, the devil wanted to swallow the sun. In order to thwart the devil, Kamui sent down a crow which flew down the devil's throat making him choke and cough. This is why the crow is such a bold bird. When Kamui made the Ainu, he made their backbones out of willow sticks. This is why as we grow older, our backs become bent.
- Establish a belief in a higher power
The higher power is Kamui, the creator god. This is known because he makes the world the way it is, he lives in the highest of the six skies, and he created the creatures of the world.
- Establish a moral code of conduct
Aionia, the divine man, was sent by Kamui to teach the Ainu how to hunt and cook along with many other things. Aionia must have taught some form of government or moral code to the people of the world since he taught many things. After his return to the heavens, the Gods told Ainu that he had the terrible smell of a human being, and the Gods would not let Aionia return to heaven until he had rid himself of his clothes. The Gods' want for cleanliness could be part of a code for how people should treat their bodies.
- Provide a sense of purpose and order for life
Since the watery world was in such a mess, Kamui wanted to make something of it. Ever since the animals saw how beautiful the world was, they begged him to live there. Kamui also gave purpose to creatures, for example the wagtail and the crow.
In comparison to the Christian creation story...
- In the Christian creation story, God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathes into his nostrils the breathe of life and man became a living thing.
- In the Ainu creation story, the first people had bodies of the earth, hair of chickweed, and spines made from sticks of willow.
- In the Christian creation story, the serpant tempted Eve by telling her that she would not die from eating from the forbidden tree, but instead, she would know good from evil like God.
- In the Ainu creation story, Kamui created the world and the devil tried to thwart him.
- In the Christian creation story, God said "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place and let the dry land appear", and he called the dry land earth and the water the seas.
- In the Ainu creation story, Kamui sent down a water wagtail to make something of the watery earth. The wagtail fluttered over the waters with its wings, trampled on the sands with its feet, and began beating it with its tail creating patches of dry land.
Group 5 Members:
Jennifer Hyatt, Lindsey Bratcher, Kyle Boswell, Tracy Field
Part 1 , Group 2
Chinese Creation
Characteristics of a Creation Story
1. Explain how life began.
Life began because Pan Gu married the princess but she didn't want to be seen with him since his head was that of a dog and the rest of his body was a man. They moved to earth and settled in the remote mountains of China and their children became the ancestors of China.
2. Explain why things are in nature.
We did not see this characteristic in our story.
3. Establish a belief in a higher power.
The story says there were two gods in heaven. King Gao Xin was the god in charge of the earth. King Fang was his rival.
4. Establish a moral code of conduct.
The story tells us about the princess having a lack of faith because she was suppose to wait seven days and seven nights and her prince would be transformed but on the sixth day fearing that he would starve to death she looked under the bell. Pan Gu's body had already change to that of a man but his head was still a dog and once the bell was raised the magic stopped; therefore, this teaches us to follow directions and obey.
5. Provide a sense of purpose and order for life.
We did not see this characteristic in our story.
Chinese Creation Story compared to the Christian creation story.
1. The Chinese story along with the Christian story both had something to do with seven days and seven nights.
2. The women disobey in both stories.
3. They are ancestors to mankind in both stories.
4. There is a rival between good and evil in both stories.
Group Members
Erica Gillie
Stacy Therrell
Cheryl Jordan
James
Kristin Meadows
Characteristics of a Creation Story
1. Explain how life began.
Life began because Pan Gu married the princess but she didn't want to be seen with him since his head was that of a dog and the rest of his body was a man. They moved to earth and settled in the remote mountains of China and their children became the ancestors of China.
2. Explain why things are in nature.
We did not see this characteristic in our story.
3. Establish a belief in a higher power.
The story says there were two gods in heaven. King Gao Xin was the god in charge of the earth. King Fang was his rival.
4. Establish a moral code of conduct.
The story tells us about the princess having a lack of faith because she was suppose to wait seven days and seven nights and her prince would be transformed but on the sixth day fearing that he would starve to death she looked under the bell. Pan Gu's body had already change to that of a man but his head was still a dog and once the bell was raised the magic stopped; therefore, this teaches us to follow directions and obey.
5. Provide a sense of purpose and order for life.
We did not see this characteristic in our story.
Chinese Creation Story compared to the Christian creation story.
1. The Chinese story along with the Christian story both had something to do with seven days and seven nights.
2. The women disobey in both stories.
3. They are ancestors to mankind in both stories.
4. There is a rival between good and evil in both stories.
Group Members
Erica Gillie
Stacy Therrell
Cheryl Jordan
James
Kristin Meadows
Monday, January 8, 2007
Week One in World Literature
I'm looking forward to working with all of you this semester and to reading your thoughts on the literature we study on this blog. There are no literary discussions due this week. We'll use the next few days to get everyone registered on the blog and to make sure everyone knows how to post your class discussions. I would, however, like to ask that each of you reply to this post by telling a little bit about yourself. We're going to be spending a lot of time working together. It will be nice to take time to get to know each other a little first. This will also give everyone a chance to practice using the blog before an assignment is due.
By the time you manage to post a reply to this message, you would have already done most of the things I asked you to do this week, but here is a reminder of your assigned tasks anyway:
(1) Get a copy of your textbook and your syllabus.
(2) Find a creation story online to bring to class for discussion.
(3) Sign up for a Google Account.
(4) Email me at sharon.gerald@jcjc.edu to let me know your Gmail address so that I can send you an invitation to join the blog.
(5) Register yourself as a member of the class blog after you get the invitation from Blogger.
(6) Reply to this post to let me know a few things about you and to let me know that you have successfully joined the class blog.
That should be enough to get us going. Email me if you have any problems with this process. I'll see you in class!
By the time you manage to post a reply to this message, you would have already done most of the things I asked you to do this week, but here is a reminder of your assigned tasks anyway:
(1) Get a copy of your textbook and your syllabus.
(2) Find a creation story online to bring to class for discussion.
(3) Sign up for a Google Account.
(4) Email me at sharon.gerald@jcjc.edu to let me know your Gmail address so that I can send you an invitation to join the blog.
(5) Register yourself as a member of the class blog after you get the invitation from Blogger.
(6) Reply to this post to let me know a few things about you and to let me know that you have successfully joined the class blog.
That should be enough to get us going. Email me if you have any problems with this process. I'll see you in class!
Friday, January 5, 2007
Welcome!
Welcome to World Literature with Dr. Sharon Gerald. Come back to this blog weekly for class announcements and discussions.
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