Myths & TheoriesMyths & Theories

What are myths?What are myths?

Myths are stories of human Myths are stories of human relationship with the divine. These relationship with the divine. These stories are based more on religious stories are based more on religious truths rather than facts.truths rather than facts.

KNOW ANY?KNOW ANY?

ie. Hercules or various stories about ie. Hercules or various stories about the creation of the earth are the creation of the earth are examples of myths.examples of myths.

What are theories?What are theories?

Theory is an explanation based Theory is an explanation based on thought, speculation, or on thought, speculation, or observation.observation.

KNOW ANY?KNOW ANY?

The theory of relativityThe theory of relativity

Same or Different?Same or Different?

Myths and Theories are similar Myths and Theories are similar because they both try to explain because they both try to explain something. something.

A myth explains how things A myth explains how things came to be from a more spiritual came to be from a more spiritual or religious tone.or religious tone.

A theory explains how things A theory explains how things emerged from a more scientific emerged from a more scientific tone.tone.

Creation MythsCreation Myths

Creation MythsCreation Myths In an effort to explain In an effort to explain

human origins, early man human origins, early man invented stories which made invented stories which made sense in regard to his sense in regard to his specific time period and specific time period and culture.culture.

These stories are known These stories are known today as “Creation Myths.”today as “Creation Myths.”

Common Common ThemesThemes

Interestingly, Creation Myths from around the world Interestingly, Creation Myths from around the world often share many similar themes.often share many similar themes.

Maori – Rangi & Papa

Greece – Uranus & Gaia

Common Elements:Common Elements: Mother and FatherMother and Father

Very common in Very common in many world many world culturescultures– Mother usually Mother usually

earthearth Life emerges from Life emerges from

earth/wombearth/womb

– Father usually skyFather usually sky Sense of unity Sense of unity

created (marriage)created (marriage)

Common Elements:Common Elements: BirthBirth

EggEgg– Often a jumbled Often a jumbled

mass of mass of components components which serve as the which serve as the first elements of first elements of lifelife

ChildbirthChildbirth– Male or Female Male or Female

gods give birth to gods give birth to childrenchildren

NaturalNatural UnusualUnusual

Most cultures Most cultures revered a revered a pantheon of pantheon of supreme beings supreme beings (polytheistic)(polytheistic)

Some cultures Some cultures revered a single revered a single creator creator (monotheistic)(monotheistic)

Common Elements:Common Elements: Supreme BeingsSupreme Beings

Many stories allude Many stories allude to a time when the to a time when the earth was covered earth was covered by waterby water– many myths feature many myths feature

a creature diving a creature diving into the water to into the water to retrieve some earth retrieve some earth to grow and form to grow and form the Earththe Earth

Common Elements:Common Elements: Earth-Diver MythsEarth-Diver Myths

Animals played Animals played key roles in many key roles in many Creation MythsCreation Myths– often viewed as often viewed as

equal to humansequal to humans– often reflect often reflect

feelings of culture feelings of culture for animalsfor animals

Common Elements:Common Elements: Animal/Human RelationshipsAnimal/Human Relationships

In the creation In the creation myths of many myths of many cultures, darkness cultures, darkness represents fearrepresents fear– the setting of the the setting of the

sun brought on sun brought on fear and chaosfear and chaos

– this fear and chaos this fear and chaos was sometimes was sometimes represented as firerepresented as fire

Common Elements:Common Elements: Night, Fear, Fire, and SinNight, Fear, Fire, and Sin

Many creation Many creation myths consist of myths consist of at least one of at least one of these elementsthese elements– The The

consequence is consequence is often what often what causes pain, causes pain, hunger, disease, hunger, disease, and all other and all other evils which evils which plague the earthplague the earth

Common Elements:Common Elements: An Instruction, a Sin, and the An Instruction, a Sin, and the

ConsequenceConsequence

Created by a god or Created by a god or supernatural beingsupernatural being

EstablishesEstablishes:: – a connection between a connection between

human beings and the human beings and the supernatural worldsupernatural world

– the place of humans in the place of humans in the hierarchy of life in the hierarchy of life in the universe (below the universe (below gods, above animals)gods, above animals)

Common Elements:Common Elements: Creation of ManCreation of Man

Many legends offer explanations for the Many legends offer explanations for the formation of mountains, valleys, oceans, formation of mountains, valleys, oceans, rivers, etc.rivers, etc.

Common Elements:Common Elements: Creation of Geographical FeaturesCreation of Geographical Features

Almost all creation Almost all creation stories account for stories account for the existence of the existence of the forms of life the forms of life that inhabit the that inhabit the planet.planet.– May also explain May also explain

the physical the physical characteristics of characteristics of the animals.the animals.

Common Elements:Common Elements: Creation of Lesser Creatures Creation of Lesser Creatures (animals, plants insects, etc.)(animals, plants insects, etc.)

                            

Much like our distant ancestors, we strive to Much like our distant ancestors, we strive to uncover our origins and determine our place in uncover our origins and determine our place in the universe.the universe.

Scientists advance new theories each year on Scientists advance new theories each year on the origin of the universethe origin of the universe– For some, scientific evidence serves as a basis for For some, scientific evidence serves as a basis for

creation storiescreation stories– For others, deeply rooted ancient beliefs remain the For others, deeply rooted ancient beliefs remain the

cornerstone in their own theoriescornerstone in their own theories

Creation MythsCreation Myths