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Mythology and Folklore

CHAPTER 4

Objectives:
a. Determine the different viewpoints about human creation.
b. Initiate ideas about the topic through discussion.
c. Point out the differences of the beliefs.

Creation Beliefs
Oral histories and mythologies about where we come from have existed for
many tens of thousands of years.
Some of the earliest evidence of “spirituality” can be traced to a site right here
in South Africa, in the caves known as “Blombos”.
In the last 5000 years, modern religions, (such as Hinduism, Judaism,
Christianity and Islam) have created their own explanations of where we, as
the human species have come from.
Human cultures over time have offered many explanations to answer
questions of existence:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. After creating the
earth, the sky, all vegetation, the sun, moon and stars, and the seas, God
made the birds and the fish on the fifth day. On the sixth day animals and
human beings were created. So God created man in his image, in the image
of God he created them, male and female he created them.” (From the
creation account in Genesis 1:1. There are two accounts of creation in the
Bible, the other starts in Genesis 2: 4b.)
“But, after all, who knows, and who can say. Whence it all came, and how
creation happened?

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Whence all creation has its origin, He, whether he fashioned it or whether he
did not, He, who surveys it all from highest heaven, He knows, or maybe even
he does not know.” (From the Hindu text Rig Veda, one of the oldest religious
texts in existence, dating back to c1800 BCE.)

The Steady State

The “Steady State” theory is a rival theory to the “Big Bang” theory. The
“Steady State” theory claims that the universe has no origin but is expanding
as new matter is being created continuously throughout the universe.

Hinduism

The creation belief central to Hinduism is the idea that Brahman (the Ultimate
Divine Reality) has three functions symbolized by the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu
and Shiva, who together are known as the Trimurti. Brahma is the creator,
the source of all creation. Vishnu is the preserver, responsible for sustaining
the Earth. Shiva is the destroyer, who brings change by universal destruction.
With its cyclical understanding of time, Hinduism teaches that the material
world is impermanent and is created not once, but repeatedly created,
preserved and destroyed through the agency of the Trimurti.

Judaism

Jewish understandings of creation are based on the Genesis account and

reflect different views of that account. Is it a parable or must it be interpreted
literally? The one belief central to Judaism is that Elohim (God) created the
world and that human beings are Elohim’s special creation. How and when
creation occurred, on the other hand, is the subject of a fascinating range of
explanations.

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For example, the Jewish calendar is dated from the supposed date of creation,
3761 BCE, calculated from a literal reading of the Bible. Significant numbers
of Jews believe that the Genesis account is literally true and that the world
was created in 6 days. In this view the world is 5,767 years old (in 2006).
On the other hand, Rabbi Isaac of Acco, a 13th century Kabbalist, calculated
that the universe is 15,340,500,000 years old, based on in parlm. Psalm 90:4
“A thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday”.

AmaZulu

Unkulunkulu, Ancient One, is the creator of all that there is. Unkulunkulu was
created in Uhlanga, a huge swamp of reeds. Unkulunkulu is
also Umvelinqangi (He who was in the very beginning), god of thunder and
earthquakes. Unkulunkulu came from the reeds and from them he brought
forth the people and the cattle. He created everything that is: mountains,
streams, snakes and cattle. He taught amaZulu how to hunt, how to make
fire, and how to grow food.

Khalakhali San

People did not always live on the surface of the Earth. At one time people and
animals lived underneath the Earth with Kaang, the Great Master and Lord of
All life. In this place people and animals lived together peacefully. They
understood each other. No one ever wanted for anything and it was always
light even though there was not any sun. During this time of bliss Kaang began
to plan the wonders he would put in the world above.

Christianity

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Like Jews, Christians base their understandings of the creation on the Genesis
account. A fundamental belief is that God created the universe out of nothing,
reflected in the classic doctrine of creatio ex nihilo.
Some Christians read the Genesis account very literally. For example, the
influential Archbishop James Ussher (1581-1656) used the genealogies in the
book of Genesis to calculate the exact moment of creation. According to him
God began the work of creation at precisely 9 am on October 26, 4004 BCE.
Today more Christians, who hold to a literal reading of Genesis, that God
created the world in six days, are called Creationists.
As early as the 4th century, St. Augustine, one of the most influential
theologians in Christian history, suggested that the six-day structure of
creation in Genesis presents a logical framework rather that the exact passage
of time. He maintained that interpreting the creation story is difficult and that
Christians should be willing to change their minds if new information were to
emerge.
Many Christians stand in this tradition and are able to accommodate new
scientific discoveries in their thinking. For them the Bible is there to explain
who the creator is and why God created the world, not a scientific explanation
of how the world was created. Many of the major Christians denominations
would hold this view. In 1996 Pope John Paul II wrote that “new findings lead
us toward the recognition of evolution as more than a hypothesis” but that “if
the origin of the human body comes through living matter which existed
previously, the spiritual soul is created directly by God”.

Batswana

Traditional Batswana belief is centered on Modimo wa Leokaoka (the Lofty/

Supreme/ Most High One), who is regarded as the creator of all, the cause
and source of life. Modimo controls human destiny, and may manifest self (not
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himself/ herself-as Modimo is not a person who can be referred to in gender
terms) to express care or scorn, pleasure or displeasure, contentment or
discontentment with whoever conforms with/goes against tradition or the
proper order of things.
Below Modimo are Badimo, ancestral spirits who are venerated, worshipped
and invoked through sacrifices, prayers and appropriate behavior. They
intervene on Modimo’s behalf in human affairs, giving or withdrawing support,
protecting or condemning, or rewarding or punishing.
Below Badimo are the spirits of royal ancestors, followed by living royalty,
village elders, and then parents, in that order of reverence.

Islam

While Islam shares the Genesis tradition with Judaism and Christianity, the
creation accounts in the Qur’an are less specific than, and differ in some details
from, Genesis 1.
Islam is unequivocal that all creation originates from the will, intention and
doing of Allah, the Almighty. The Holy Qur’an further states that the Almighty
created the heavens and Earth in six days.
Verily your Lord Allah has created the heavens and the earth in six days. (The
Heights verse 54)
There are differing views in Islam as to the how and in what order the creation
happened. The Qur’an is also quite clear that the human race originated From
Adam (peace be upon him).
Oh mankind fear your Lord who created you from a single soul (Adam). (Ch
Women verse 1)
Whilst some Muslims might see in the Qur’an support for the big bang theory
in which it reads.

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The heavens and the earth were joined as one unit before we clove them
asunder. (Ch 21 verse 30)
In this verse, the Almighty Allah is responsible for this phenomenon.

Mythological Beliefs

African Bushmen Creation Myth

People did not always live on the surface of the earth. At one time people and
animals lived underneath the earth with Kaang (Käng), the Great Master and
Lord of All Life. In this place people and animals lived together peacefully.
They understood each other. No one ever wanted for anything and it was
always light even though there wasn’t any sun. During this time of bliss Kaang
began to plan the wonders he would put in the world above.
First Kaang created a wondrous tree, with branches stretching over the entire
country. At the base of the tree he dug a hole that reached all the way down
into the world where the people and animals lived. After he had finished
furnishing the world as he pleased he led the first man up the hole. He sat
down on the edge of the hole and soon the first woman came up out of it.
Soon all the people were gathered at the foot of the tree, awed by the world
they had just entered. Next, Kaang began helping the animals climb out of
the hole. In their eagerness some of the animals found a way to climb up
through the tree’s roots and come out of the branches. They continued racing
out of the world beneath until all of the animals were out.
Kaang gathered all the people and animals about him. He instructed them to
live together peacefully. Then he turned to the men and women and warned
them not to build any fires or a great evil would befall them. They gave their
word and Kaang left to where he could watch his world secretly.

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As evening approached the sun began to sink beneath the horizon. The people
and animals stood watching this phenomenon, but when the sun disappeared
fear entered the hearts of the people. They could no longer see each other as
they lacked the eyes of the animals which were capable of seeing in the dark.
They lacked the warm fur of the animals also and soon grew cold. In
desperation one man suggested that they build a fire to keep warm. Forgetting
Kaang’s warning they disobeyed him. They soon grew warm and were once
again able to see each other.
However the fire frightened the animals. They fled to the caves and mountains
and ever since the people broke Kaang’s command people have not been able
to communicate with animals. Now fear has replaced the seat friendship once
held between the two groups.
The Bushmen of Africa believe that not only are plants and animals alive, but
also rain, thunder, the wind, spring, etc. They claim:
What we see is only the outside form or body. Inside is a living spirit that we
cannot see. These spirits can fly out of one body into another. For example, a
woman’s spirit might sometime fly into a leopard; or a man’s spirit fly into a
lion’s body. (Fahs and Spoerl 6)
This may be part of the reason that animals play such an important role in
their myth.

Greek Creation Myth

In the beginning there was an empty darkness. The only thing in this void was
Nyx, a bird with black wings. With the wind she laid a golden egg and for ages
she sat upon this egg. Finally life began to stir in the egg and out of it rose
Eros, the god of love. One half of the shell rose into the air and became the
sky and the other became the Earth. Eros named the sky Uranus and the Earth
he named Gaia. Then Eros made them fall in love.

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Uranus and Gaia had many children together and eventually they had
grandchildren. Some of their children become afraid of the power of their
children. Kronus, in an effort to protect himself, swallowed his children when
they were still infants. However, his wife Rhea hid their youngest child. She
gave him a rock wrapped in swaddling clothes, which he swallowed, thinking
it was his son.
Once the child, Zeus, had reached manhood his mother instructed him on how
to trick his father to give up his brothers and sisters. Once this was
accomplished the children fought a mighty war against their father. After much
fighting the younger generation won. With Zeus as their leader, they began
to furnish Gaia with life and Uranus with stars.
Soon the Earth lacked only two things: man and animals. Zeus summoned his
sons Prometheus (fore-thought) and Epimetheus (after-thought). He told
them to go to Earth and create men and animals and give them each a gift.
Prometheus set to work forming men in the image of the gods and Epimetheus
worked on the animals. As Epimetheus worked he gave each animal he
created one of the gifts. After Epimetheus had completed his work Prometheus
finally finished making men. However when he went to see what gift to give
man Epimetheus shamefacedly informed him that he had foolishly used all the
gifts
Distressed, Prometheus decided he had to give man fire, even though gods
were the only ones meant to have access to it. As the sun god rode out into
the world the next morning Prometheus took some of the fire and brought it
back to man. He taught his creation how to take care of it and then left them.
When Zeus discovered Prometheus’ deed he became furious. He ordered his
son to be chained to a mountain and for a vulture to peck out his liver every
day till eternity. Then he began to devise a punishment for mankind. Another
of his sons created a woman of great beauty, Pandora. Each of the gods gave

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her a gift. Zeus’ present was curiosity and a box which he ordered her never
to open. Then he presented her to Epimetheus as a wife.
Pandora’s life with Epimetheus was happy except for her intense longing to
open the box. She was convinced that because the gods and goddesses had
showered so many glorious gifts upon her that this one would also be
wonderful. One day when Epimetheus was gone she opened the box.
Out of the box flew all of the horrors which plague the world today – pain,
sickness, envy, greed. Upon hearing Pandora’s screams Epimetheus rushed
home and fastened the lid shut, but all of the evils had already escaped.
Later that night they heard a voice coming from the box saying,
“Let me out. I am hope.”
Pandora and Epimetheus released her and she flew out into the world to give
hope to humankind.

Japanese Creation Myth

Long ago all the elements were mixed together with one germ of life. This
germ began to mix things around and around until the heavier part sank and
the lighter part rose. A muddy sea that covered the entire earth was created.
From this ocean grew a green shoot. It grew and grew until it reached the
clouds and there it was transformed into a god. Soon this god grew lonely and
it began to create other gods. The last two gods it made, Izanagi and Izanami,
were the most remarkable.
One day as they were walking along they looked down on the ocean and
wondered what was beneath it. Izanagi thrust his staff into the waters and as
he pulled it back up some clumps of mud fell back into the sea. They began
to harden and grow until they became the islands of Japan.
The two descended to these islands and began to explore, each going in
different directions. They created all kinds of plants. When they met again

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they decided to marry and have children to inhabit the land. The first child
Izanami bore was a girl of radiant beauty. The gods decided she was too
beautiful to live in Japan, so they put her up in the sky and she became the
sun. Their second daughter, Tsuki-yami, became the moon and their third and
unruly son, Sosano-wo, was sentenced to the sea, where he creates storms.
Later, their first child, Amaterasu, bore a son who became the emperor of
Japan and all the emperors since then have claimed descent from him.

Iroquois Creation Myth

Long before the world was created there was an island, floating in the sky,
upon which the Sky People lived. They lived quietly and happily. No one ever
died or was born or experienced sadness. However one day one of the Sky
Women realized she was going to give birth to twins. She told her husband,
who flew into a rage. In the center of the island there was a tree which gave
light to the entire island since the sun hadn’t been created yet. He tore up this
tree, creating a huge hole in the middle of the island. Curiously, the woman
peered into the hole. Far below she could see the waters that covered the
earth. At that moment her husband pushed her. She fell through the hole,
tumbling towards the waters below.
Water animals already existed on the earth, so far below the floating island
two birds saw the Sky Woman fall. Just before she reached the waters they
caught her on their backs and brought her to the other animals. Determined
to help the woman they dove into the water to get mud from the bottom of
the seas. One after another the animals tried and failed. Finally, Little Toad
tried and when he reappeared his mouth was full of mud. The animals took it
and spread it on the back of Big Turtle. The mud began to grow and grow and
grow until it became the size of North America.

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Then the woman stepped onto the land. She sprinkled dust into the air and
created stars. Then she created the moon and sun.
The Sky Woman gave birth to twin sons. She named one Sapling. He grew to
be kind and gentle. She named the other Flint and his heart was as cold as
his name. They grew quickly and began filling the earth with their creations.
Sapling created what is good. He made animals that are useful to humans. He
made rivers that went two ways and into these he put fish without bones. He
made plants that people could eat easily. If he was able to do all the work he
there would be no suffering.
Flint destroyed much of Sapling’s work and created all that is bad. He made
the rivers flow only in one direction. He put bones in fish and thorns on berry
bushes. He created winter, but Sapling gave it life so that it could move to
give way to spring. He created monsters which his brother drove beneath the
Earth.
Eventually Sapling and Flint decided to fight till one conquered the other.
Neither was able to win at first, but finally Flint was beaten. Because he was
a god Flint could not die, so he was forced to live on Big Turtle’s back.
Occasionally his anger is felt in the form of a volcano.
The Iroquois people hold a great respect for all animals. This is mirrored in
their creation myth by the role the animals play. Without the animals’ help the
Sky Woman may have sunk to the bottom of the sea and earth may not have
been created.

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 https://www.cs.williams.edu/~lindsey/myths/myth.html
 https://www.maropeng.co.za/content/page/creation-beliefs

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9mFNgu6Cww
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eVFgfQ2694
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilZ99sGM-kA
Video links:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEcJk7s6NPs
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTy49JlgJZE
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7vget_QAmo
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCXl75599mM
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kqydWq_l2Q

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