...Christians and Stewardship of Their Environment 1. Introduction Our earthly habitat is not an unexpected occurrence of little worth, but rather, it is one to be highly valued and preserved. The biblical doctrine of creation helps the Christian to understand the true significance of the world in order to deal with the environmental crisis. The Bible says, “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited…” (King James Version, Isaiah 45:18). In Christian teaching, God not only created Heavens and Earth, but expressed His delight in His creation. This creation meant, everything encompassing the trees, the rivers and all kinds of elements that go into preserving the environment (Genesis 1:31). Therefore, the destruction of the environment is against God’s will. The main problem in the stewardship model is the fall of mankind into a state of sin and depravity (Genesis 3). As a result of the fall, we are in rebellion against God. We no longer act as the stewards we ought to be regarding the earth and its resources. Therefore, we tend towards exploitation and abuse. In addition, the earth has been cursed as a result of the fall (Romans 8:20; Genesis 3:17-18). Action Institute expressed it this way; “Nature now produces floods, fires, earthquakes, weeds, and crop destroying insects (“A Biblical Perspective on Environmental Stewardship”). This...
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...Dr. Mortenson touched basis on how the geology was debated by different groups, Christian and non Christian scientists and what their beliefs are concerning how the universe was created. Summary This article basically informs the readers of the contents of the old earth geology theory. The debate that Dr. Mortenson discusses in this article has been around for some time, but many people do not know that it exist. The repercussions of this article is shown throughout this whole debate, basically because the theories does not consider God as the creator of the universe. From the "new Theories about the History of Creation", during the 18th century, the French scientists concluded that the earth evolution was the result of a collision between the sun and a comet. During the 19 century, the Scriptural Geologist believed in the biblical account of the "six day creation". These four Scottish men were of strong Christian faith and Journal Article Review 3 respected character. Because Christianity played a strong role in how and why people believed. This is probably why the old earth theory was in such a great debate. Strengths of the Article Dr. Terry Mortenson explained each of the theories to give a basic understanding of each and how it was created. When describing each one, he gave important...
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...Importance of Speech Popol Vuh, written anonymously by Mayans and later translated by Father Ximenez, is a myth on the creation of humans through a process of trial and error. By examining the role of speaking and its relationship to humans in Popul Vuh, we can see that the ability to speak and reason defines humanity. Speech is first introduced as just existing when the world had just begun. Any form of life had not existed except for the sea. Then the myth illustrates the power of speech when the Gods create the earth from just their words after talking and pondering together. The ability to speak has great power and is something that the Mayans felt important in their culture. The story then goes on as the Gods create animals as the first living beings. . However, these living beings were incapable of human thought and the gods expressed their dissatisfaction by saying to the animals, “You shall be replaced because you were not successful.” This begins many experiments by the Gods for the perfect human being. After being disappointed in the creations of animals, mud people, and wood people, the Gods finally create human that are capable of human thought. These humans were created by maize and water which are the necessary nutrition to sustain life for the Mayans. However these humans become another “mistake” for the Gods when they are asked to speak. The relationship between speech and reasoning is distinguished when they rename the Gods as “grandmother” and “grandfather...
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...several verses in the Bible that are used in support of creation ex nihilo: Creation Ex Nihilo in the Old Testament Genesis 1:1 reads, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Those who subscribe to creation ex nihilo emphasize that the Genesis 1 creation account stands out among Ancient Near East creation accounts as explicilty monotheistic and teaching that the Creator and the creation are distinct. The description of God as "the first and the last" (e.g. Isaiah 44:6) and "the Alpha and the Omega" (e.g. Revelation 1:8) are believed to relfect the uniqueness of the Creator as an eternal being. It is further understood that eternality is an atttribute of the Creator, which nothing else in the universe shares. Psalm 104:5-8 is said to support creation ex nihilo. It reads: "5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. 6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. 7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. 8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them." Psalm 24:1-2 is said to support creation ex nihilo. It reads: "1 The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods." Psalm 102:25-27 is said to support creation ex nihilo. It reads: "25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation...
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...Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures Kelly Holliday University of Phoenix HUM/105 Cecelia Weber November 5, 2013 Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures The Inca and Navajo myths represent a world on earth. On earth the elements of sun, moon, water, fire, trees, and animals are all represented within the Inca and Navajo worlds. The creator for the Navajo world is the sun as were the Incan world creator is a derivative of the sun. Each creator provides a world for its people. This is the main concept for each creator, but this process is done in very different ways. The creators are perceived to be male in both worlds. It does not appear women play an important role unless given leadership from the creator. The Incan creator, named Pachacamac, created humans as to where the Navajo creation myth already had the first beings in the world. The Navajo world consisted of the first beings, which they named the first men, first women, salt women, fire god, coyote, and Begochiddy. Navajo’s Begochiddy, who is also the Child of the Sun, is the creator of all elements and other worlds for the first beings. Pachacamac, the creator for the Incas, was lonely at night so he created stars, planets, and the moon. Pachacamac created such a beautiful moon, he then falls in love and marries his moon. The significance of gender is the ability to the produce life to other beings and elements. He goes on to create mankind out of stone. The mankind he creates is pitiful and unable to care for...
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...says no he won’t help. Theo crosses the field of adventure when he asks his cousin for the transport papers and agrees to escort Kee. The belly of the whale, the series of tasks, and the meeting of the goddess all revolve around Julian. The ultimate boon is when Kee is delivered to the Human Project Boat, completing the quest. 4. Some cultural truths that we see in this movie include: Fears of war, illegal immigrants, death/the end of the human race that our lifestyles will effect our bodies (chemicals, over-processed food, pollution, prescription and recreational drugs), terrorism, that the government is either not working for us, hurting people, or will violate our freedoms, that we’re not prepared for the future. 5. A similar creation myth to this movie is Out of the Blue. Kee doesn’t know who the father of her child is and doesn’t even know how she became pregnant in the first place. Sky Woman has a husband but is miraculously impregnated after lying under the Tree of Life alone. We also see Sky Woman creating the heavens and the earth out of darkness/nothing, where Kee creates hope and life out of nothing with her...
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...The creation account -day 1-3:functions: time, weather, food -day -6: functionaries: human as pinnacle -day 7: god seeking a place to “rest” -1: lightday Darkness night -2: firmament in the midst of the water: water under and above the firmament Firmamentheaven -3: water under firmament be together unto one place, and the dry land appear The gathering together of water sea Dry land earth Earth bring forth grass, herb yielding seed, tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself -4:lights in the firmament of the heaven to be sign for seasons, days, and years and to divide light from darkness The greater lightrule the day The lesser lightrule the night He also made the star -5:every living creaturebe fruitful and multiply, fill the waters brought forth abundantly ,after their kind and winged fowl after his kind In the seafish Above the heavenwinged fowl Creep in the earthreptile -6: HUMAN: Gen 1:26:” And god said: let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth God blessed them, and said: be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it 2. The fall and it consequences Gen 2:4-3:24– focuses in on the end of the first creation account Characters: God, Adam, Eve, Serpent Structure: creation, prohibition...
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...Creation Myths Kimberly L. Moore HUM/105 World Mythology Diana Bernstein February 1, 2016 Creation Myths * I have chosen the “Greek Creation Myth,” and the “Mayan Creation Myth.” * In the “Mayan Creation Myth,” the heavens and the earth are both represented. The elements of earth are: day, moon and stars, mountains and hills, streams and rivers, animals, and human beings. The heavens are represented by Veracocha’s retreat to Lake Titcaca, from which he emerges in the beginning of the myth. It also describes a sea world as the god and his companions retreat to the coast of the sea, in the end of the myth, never to be seen again (Rosenberg p. 599) In the “Greek Creation myth,” earth, the sky world, and underworld are all represented. The earth is made from the earth Goddess, Gaia. The sky, and its starry mantle are Uranus, Gaia’s husband. The underworld is a place that contains the deepest, darkest depths of the earth, but also the “Blessed Isles,” a beautiful place where the heroes go when they die (University of Phoenix, 2015). * The creator in the Mayan creation myth is Lord Con Ticci Viracocha, “prince of the heavens and the earth” (Rosenburg p.599). Viracocha created the heavens and the earth first. Then, he created the animals and a race of “gigantic human beings” (Rosenburg p.571). He was displeased with the behaviors of the animals and humans, turned them into stone, and flooded the earth killing all of its inhabitants. He began again by creating day...
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...art. Myths and mythological characters have enthused masterpieces of composition, literature, sculpture and architecture. By studying myths, you can study how diverse societies have answered primary questions about the world and the individuals place in it. As individuals, the study of myths shows us how urbanized a meticulous communal system is with the conduct of life. By investigative myths, people can understand the feelings and principles that combine members of society into one group. Comparing the myths of a variety of cultures to determine how they are diverse and how they remind you of one another can also, show understanding on how people behave. For at least 2,000 years, scholars have speculated about how myths began. Some consider myths began as historical events that became unclear with the line of time. Others think myths resulted from an effort to explain natural occurrences that people could not value. Scholars have also urbanized others theories of how myths began. These theories answers all the questions about myths, but each contributes to an understanding of the subject. Today, people have methodical answers theories for many such questions about the world around them, also the usual events in terms of stories about gods, goddesses, and heroes. In the early days each society urbanized its own myths, which played a significant part in the society’s religious life. Most myths are alienated into two groups’ creation myths and explanatory myths. In this...
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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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...be given. Brief Overview and Main Points The theme of the article is the question concerning the age of planet Earth. Mortenson’s main point centers on the debate (which has been going on since the early 19th century) between Christian scientists and new theorists concerning how Earth came into being. In short, Christian scientists believe Earth was a process of divine creation; non-scientists believe Earth came about through a process of evolution (Mortenson, 2003). Article Strengths Mortenson did an excellent job when describing the differences between the beliefs of the scriptural geologists (Christian scientists) and the new theorists. For the most noted ones, he gave a brief description of their background. This allowed the reader to understand a little about the person and the kind of research the person had been doing. When discussing the views of the scriptural geologists, Mortenson talked about how their views stemmed from what the Bible says about the creation of Earth. As far as the new theorists were concerned, he discussed in great detail each of their theories concerning Earth’s creation. The gist of most of their theories focused on evolution and the laws of nature. God’s divine intervention was nowhere in the picture. Overall, Mortenson’s writing was concise and to the point. This made his article easy to comprehend. He gave just the right amount of detail which allowed the reader to have a clear...
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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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...Taressa Toto October 3, 2016 Ela III - Period 4 Origin Myths Essay “When Grizzlies Walked Upright” and “The Navajo Origin Legend” show similarities, but also many differences throughout their stories. Both tell you their different aspects as to what they believe happened at the time of the creation. The symbol of wind also plays a big part when telling about the main ideas. What the two find important in culture and humanity is their biggest difference. “When Grizzlies Walked Upright” and “The Navajo Origin Legend” are able to be compared because they are all about the first creation of humans. In “When Grizzlies Walked Upright,” on page 25 you read the quote “When she became a young woman, her and the oldest grizzly bear were married. In...
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...God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 2:1, ESV). The Lord God created man out of the dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Gen. 2:7). In Eden, the Lord God planted a garden and every tree that is good for food and pleasant to the sight (Gen. 2:8-9). God formed a woman from Adam’s rib (Gen. 2:21-22). Proverbs 3:5-7 instructs man to trust in the Lord with all his heart, and do not lean unto his own understanding. In addition, in all his ways man should acknowledge God and He will direct a man’s path. After all, God created man and woman therefore both genders can trust in the God of their creation. Proverbs 18:10 says the name of the Lord is a strong tower and the righteous run in to it and are safe. In...
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...Dreaming, or 'Tjukurrpa' (australia.gov.au), are words to describe the knowledge that the Aborigines passed on every generation through stories, song cycles, laws, ceremonies, dance and forms of art (from Retroactive 1). Some dreamtime stories tell great sea journeys and dramatic beginning, some tells how animals developed their peculiar traits, some tells awesome landscapes changes and subsequent campsite moves in which came from the people of Australia (from Australia Aboriginal Heritage). One famous example of dreamtime stories is the Rainbow Serpent, which is the story telling about the great creator of the world. There are many similarities with the dreamtime stories even though there are more than 600 different cultures, the point of the story never changed but only the way people tell the legend had changed over times. In dreamtime stories, some color represents different kind of message. For example, the color red is the sacred color for most traditional groups; the color white is the sacred color in central New South Wales. In the Aborigines culture, some legends can be told to everyone in the group, but some sacred legends can only be told to men. In addition, only the elders of each group control the process of retelling or the legends. In the Aborigines culture, every group has a similar but different language to others. Around 500,000 Aborigines were divided into about 70 different social groups, and in each group, everyone relates to each other in some way. Most...
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