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