...Creation Myths Across Cultures Angie Laird HUM/105 - World Mythology Class Group: BSDH16JHC0 University of Phoenix Online Instructor: Gerald Grudzen February 11, 2013 Comparing and contrasting creation myths The two creation myths chosen to compare and contrast focuses on the Norse culture of Iceland Vikings and the Genesis creation of the Hebrew origin of Christian culture. Both creation myths begin with an empty void where chaos or conflict develops. The Norse myth narrates a conflict between the fiery realm of Muspell and the dark, cold realm of Niflheim within the emptiness called ginnungagap and where nothing could grow. The Genesis conflict was between God and nothing, loneliness, and the need to create something beautiful. There are specifically nine classifications of creation myths and many employ more than one motif. Genesis cosmogonies apply both the deus faber and ex nihilo motifs. The story often considered the ex nihilo myth, meaning "out of nothing" is the account in the first book of the Old Testament, Genesis, of God's creation in six days by speaking into existence light and darkness, sun and moon, stars and earth, plants and animals, and birds and fish. God then generates Adam in His image from the dust and breathes life into him and Eve was formed from one of Adam's ribs, therefore combining deus faber (the "maker-God") with ex nihilo motifs. The Nordic creation myths tend to combine accretion/conjunction, secretion, and sacrifice motifs. It features...
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...Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures Stephanie Smith HUM/105 August 18, 2014 Kwajalein Harmon Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures Creation myths are stories told throughout time to describe how the world was formed and began. They also tell how the first people came to inhabit it. There are different myths for different cultures. The Native Americans have several myths. The Seminole Indians believe in the Creator who is also known as the Grandfather of all things. They believed the Creator made the earth. He then made all the animals of the world. The next step in his creation was to place all living things in a shell and placed it beside a tree. The Creator was hoping that the panther would be the first one to leave the shell. However, the shell sat for a long time. Over time the root of the tree formed with the shell and finally a crack appeared. Then the winds helped to make the crack wider. The bird began to peck at the crack until finally the panther emerged from the shell. The rest of the animals followed after that and they all went out to find their proper place on Earth. (nativeamcreation.html, 2015) The creator in this myth is a man. There does not seem to be any significance to this. One can only assume that man was always considered the greater being. The Zulu myth begins with just one seed that fell to the Earth. Once the seed took root in the earth, Uthlanga began to grow. These are long reeds that mean “the source of all things”. The first one...
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...Cosmic Creation Myths Vanessa Pomi HUM 105 December 1, 2014 Christa Menninger Cosmic Creation Myths There are several creation myths across different cultures. Every different culture has its own unique creation myth that explains how the world and life came to be (Leonard & McClure, 2004). Although each culture has a different way of explaining the creation story, there are similarities and differences among them. Two of the myths that are more divergent in content are the Eddas creation myth from Norse culture and the Genesis creation myth from Hebrew culture. Although both creation stories have more than one realm, they differ in how they break each area down. Both creation myths also have a god or gods as the beginning creators. All cultures have their own creation myths and it is interesting to see the similarities and differences between them. There are many worlds or realms to take into consideration when discussing the Norse creation myth. In the beginning there was a realm called Muspell which was made of fire, and a realm called Niflheim which was made of ice (Leonard & McClure, 2004). Between both of these realms was a sea of emptiness called Ginnungagap (Leonard & McClure, 2004). All three of the realms were not considered to be part of the heavens or the earth but rather before earth. These realms were the beginning or pre-worlds of the Norse creation myths. According to Norse mythology there were two main creators, Ymir and Audumla (Leonard...
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...“Cosmic Creation Myths across Cultures” Karen Brown HUM/105 February 02, 2012 Instructor: Mr. Gifford University of Phoenix Introduction Myths are said to be the answers as to how and when our world first was created and from this evolution was the birth of life on to the planet. Many different cultures have came about by the telling of these fables to the next generation and also sets the stage for who actually brought forth the creation of human being, the Greenland, the watery plain, animals and other elements of nature into view. In this paper it will have for discussion the description of two creation myths and their cultural surrounding, which world(s) are presented in the myths like the sky, earth, and the underworld along with the elements of these worlds. Whether or not there are significance gender and if the creator are male or female, description of what was created and the steps or cycle of creation, the role of cosmic occurrences, and then compare the similarities and differences of the two myths. Creators of the World For centuries there has been the burning question of who were our creators. There have been ancient narratives or passages written over time about how the world was formed and that the gods saw fit to brought about life into universe, one account is quoted from the book of Genesis contain written knowledge as one god, but no say as to if the gender was male or female but a spirit that shaped and molded the heavens and earth...
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...The myths within different cultures cosmic creation 105 6/29/2015 Dr. AMBRONITA DOUZART The myths within different cultures cosmic creation With the stories of the myths creations, they have told to generation-to-generation. To give a clear understand, of the world how it started. Also created to what it has become now. It explains the reasons of how the human being created, in came to function on in the world. With these myths different cultures, have their stories to tell of myths as such. The two creations myths that I will be discussing is the Navajo. The Inca, they are signifying as the world that is on the earth with the moon. The sun elements of animals, fire, trees, water all symbolize the world Navajo also the Inca. With the Incan, believe the sun created the world, also who created the world. For the Navajo the sun, just like it created for the Inca. With both of these creators, they all made worlds for the people within their society the main, reason with both the Inca Navajo creators. For the creators of both of these societies, they have different methods of making the world. Also within Both the Inca and the Navajo, the creators gender is a man, not women. For the reason, women were not the symbol, of power and valued, as men would be in these cultures as creators. With the Navajo society world The Pachacamer is the Inca maker, of the maker of people. Although the myths of the Navajo maker has already started creating people,...
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...aspects of every culture were documented in myths. Creation myths explained how a people came to be, giving them a spiritual/religious connection to a much larger universe filled with the unexplained. In addition, creation myths explained a culture’s origin, history, deities and heroes. Myths gave a culture a clear connection throughout the ages. These myths were passed on through generations to become an integral part of many cultures. Myths helped make order out of chaos, explained things in nature that could not be readily understood. Myths, frequently, expressed ideas and concepts that were common to all human beings. Questions about good and evil, life and death, fear and anxiety, heroes and heroic feats, punishment for breaking cultural values are present in every culture. The “why” of existence crosses cultural, racial and geographic challenges. These topics were the basis for many myths. The myths created to address these topics were frequently variations of the same or similar stories/oral traditions. Collectively, these universal themes or questions are referred to as universal myths. Myths existed before there was art and before the written word. The great mythic themes were known before literature. Myths existed before philosophy and science. A culture's mythology is a powerful form of psychology, casting light on the culture's shared unconscious. Myths are a clear reflection of the religious/spiritual beliefs of a culture. Myths allow a culture to explore and address...
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...Mackey How is the word myth used popularly? For a long time I avoided using the word myth because it means so many different things to different people. Academic experts on myth debate heatedly about what a myth is and how it functions in human life. In fact, with so many conflicting meanings and so much debate, some scholars have declared the word meaningless and abandoned it altogether. (Word press 2014) For example, what does the statement, "It's a myth" mean? “Myth” is derived from the Greek word mythos, which can mean tale, or story, and that is essentially what a myth is: a story. For many, such a general definition proves to be of no real service, and some would add the qualification that a myth must be a “traditional” tale or story, one that has proved of so lasting a value that it is continually retold, through whatever medium the artist/storyteller chooses to employ. In contrast, how is the word myth used in the academic context? Myth is used in many ways and is something to keep you thinking and on your toes. It’s used to look at things different ways like the most recent dress that was going on line, is the dress blue and black or white and gold? Just from asking most of my friends and family it was just about 50/50. Now you have to ask yourself what is the real color. After considering the definition in your textbooks and course materials, write a definition in your own words? To me a myth is something made up but can be very real and has...
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...Myth of Santa Claus Santa Claus is a figure who is said to bring gifts to the good children on 24 December, the night before Christmas. He is depicted as a joyous, white-bearded man, wearing a red and white suit and carrying a bag full of gifts. Santa Claus in the American culture has elves working for him at the North Pole. The elves make and pack the toys that goes to the children. Santa makes a list of the children according to their behaviour and delivers the toys to the well-behaved children and sometimes coal to naughty children on the single night of Christmas Eve. The elves help him doing that. He has eight reindeer which pull his sleigh and can fly. Santa Claus lives at the North Pole. History of Santa Claus The American name Santa...
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...In “Culture War? The Myth of a Polarized America” Morris Fiorina is addressing that the dark line drawn between the “red” and “blue” states is dramatized by “the journalistic community” (26). Fiorina begins his argument by dating back to the 1990s when the motion of culture war abrupted. He provides examples, such as that of political campaigns tensions, scandals, books, articles, and identifies the media as the one adding gasoline to the fire and making the issues “high in news value” (26) when in reality they are not. The authors main point is that the reports on culture war “range from simple exaggeration to sheer nonsense” (28). The notion of a culture war is nothing but a myth fabricated by headline news that want to captivate the audience's attention with radical and...
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...“A Myth” Mythology/HUM/105 August 19, 2014 Stacy Pfister-Jolley For me a myth is an abstract word that can be real or not. When using it in textbook then it should be understood figuratively. It’s as stated on www.thefreedictionary.com, myth is defined as a fictitious but well known story. The word myth is used in the studious context by acknowledging what is fake or real. The word myth is used popularly through fantasies told throughout today’s culture. Either were reading a book with magical creatures or watching a science fiction movie. Some mystical stories which are: Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, Zeus, Merlin and the tooth fairy. These myths were made to decrease reality for adolescent. For example, telling the story of Santa Claus to children. It makes them excited and some behave more or less during the holidays. To me, myths are like historic events that are not true and much more interesting than others. For me a myth is an abstract word that can be real or not. When using it in textbook then it should be understood figuratively. One of the most commonly used myths that many different cultures have in common is the creation myth. When examining creation stories and creation myths across cultures, there are several obvious similarities and differences that exist. While these creation myths are important to observe and offer ideas about, it seems that the most vital task is not in analyzing the smaller differences or common elements, but to look at...
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...Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures Arthil Valena Hum 105 May 23, 2016 David Hudson Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures There are many creation myths that originate from different cultures. Every culture has its own unique myth that explains creation and how the world and life came to be (Leonard & McClure, 2004). Although each culture has a different way of explaining the story of creation, there are some similarities and differences among them. Two of the myths that are more divergent in content are the Edda creation myth from Norse culture and the Genesis creation myth from Hebrew culture. Although both creation stories have more than one realm, they differ in how they break each area down. Both creation myths also have a god or gods as the beginning creators. All cultures have their own creation myths and it is interesting to see the similarities and differences between Monotheistic and Polytheistic There are many worlds or realms to take into consideration when discussing the Norse creation myth. In the beginning there was a realm called Muspell which was made of fire, and a realm called Niflheim which was made of ice (Leonard & McClure, 2004). Between both of these realms was a sea of emptiness called Ginnungagap (Leonard & McClure, 2004). All three of the realms were not considered to be part of the heavens or the earth but rather before earth. These realms were the beginning or pre-worlds of the Norse creation myths. According...
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...have in common, and how they function in their cultures. Illustrate your analysis of your chosen contemporary secular place by comparing it to at least one other sacred place taken from a traditional myth. Format your paper according to APA standards. ============================================== HUM 105 (Rome) Week 5 Learning Team Assignment: Secular Organizations and Sacred Places Paper (UOP) FOR MORE CLASSES VISIT www. hum105tutorials.com Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper on the secular organization that was assigned to your team in Week 1. Explain how one to three of its locations functions as a sacred place(s). As you do so, explain what elements mythic sacred places have in common, and how they function in their cultures. Illustrate your analysis of your chosen contemporary secular place by comparing it to at least one other sacred place taken from a traditional myth. Format your paper according to APA standards. ============================================== HUM 105 (Washington) Week 5 Learning Team Assignment: Secular Organizations and Sacred Places Paper (UOP) FOR MORE CLASSES VISIT www. hum105tutorials.com Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper on the secular organization that was assigned to your team in Week 1. Explain how one to three of its locations functions as a sacred place(s). As you do so, explain what elements mythic sacred places have in common, and how they function in their cultures. Illustrate your analysis of your chosen...
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... and how they function in their cultures. Illustrate your analysis of your chosen contemporary secular place by comparing it to at least one other sacred place taken from a traditional myth. Format your paper according to APA standards. ******************************************************** HUM 105 (Rome) Week 5 Learning Team Assignment: Secular Organizations and Sacred Places Paper (UOP) FOR MORE CLASSES VISIT www. hum105tutorials.com Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper on the secular organization that was assigned to your team in Week 1. Explain how one to three of its locations functions as a sacred place(s). As you do so, explain what elements mythic sacred places have in common, and how they function in their cultures. Illustrate your analysis of your chosen contemporary secular place by comparing it to at least one other sacred place taken from a traditional myth. Format your paper according to APA standards. ******************************************************** HUM 105 (Washington) Week 5 Learning Team Assignment: Secular Organizations and Sacred Places Paper (UOP) FOR MORE CLASSES VISIT www. hum105tutorials.com Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper on the secular organization that was assigned to your team in Week 1. Explain how one to three of its locations functions as a sacred place(s). As you do so, explain what elements mythic sacred places have in common, and how they function in their cultures. Illustrate your...
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...Cosmic Creation Myths across Cultures Leroy Williams HUM/105 World Mythology August 19, 2015 Dr. Cheryl Lampshire Cosmic Creation Myths across Cultures Does anyone really know how the world was created? The creation of the world is a big mystery that may never be resolved. Many people mainly, religious believe that God created the world; and there are others that believe other creators were involved in the process of creating the world. I believe that creation is the most important subject in the myth culture. There are several meanings for creation but according to the dictionary "Creation" (n.d.), “creation is the act of producing or causing to exist; it is also the act of creating and engendering”. Creation myths describe the beginning of the world’s cosmic order. For many years there have been studies done, where scientist have been trying to decipher how the world was created and as of today there is no evidence that will help with its finding. With this paper I will discuss two myths the Aboriginal Myth and the Zulu Creation Myth. Which world or worlds, such as the earth, sky, and the underworld they represent, what the elements of these worlds are? Provide a description of the creators, where they female or male, and would gender actually make a difference? Additionally it will explain what they created, and will include the steps or cycles of creation. Will provide descriptions of any destruction or destroyers if necessary. The role of cosmic...
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...Theories of Myths Paper Myths are so important when it comes to understanding people; Myth comes from the Greek word ‘mythos’ that simply means story or word. Before histories and books on fiction, fact or fantasy were ever written, man from the earliest days told stories to each other and for each other to communicate, reassure, share, and make sense of his or her realities. Myths enact and present a narrative of how a character lives out or goes through an event or a set of events. Myths have come to symbolize a particular genre of fiction along the lines of legends and folktales - important aspects of meaning-making and identity-creation in cultures all over the world. Mary Magoulick (2009) defines myths as such, "Myths are symbolic tales of the distant past (often primordial times) that concern cosmogony and cosmology (the origin and nature of the universe), may be connected to belief systems or rituals, and may serve to direct social action and values." In this paper I will discuss three theories, compare two creation myths, and finish with a summary and conclusion of my reflection towards the theories. Myths are important areas and source of sociological, psychological, and even historiographical discourse in our attempt at understanding and learning of the world of our ancestors and the people and civilizations that came before us. From these myths we learn their world views, how they made sense of their realities and how they reacted to and processed natural and social...
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