All human societies, including our own, tell stories about how the world began. Creation myths are stories invented by early man to understand our origins. Most of us are familiar with the Western creation story from the book of Genesis with Adam and Eve. But there are thousands of other creation stories, and these stories are incredibly diverse, depending on culture and location. Yet, the one thing they have in common is the human desire to explain where we come from: the origins of earth, animals, plants, and humans.
The goal of this project is that you each explore the incredible diversity found in other cultures, specifically through their creation stories. Through your research and presentations, you will learn more about these diverse cultures, explore the idea of myth in culture, and discover the incredible similarities these creation myths share.
For more information and links to creation stories, please click on the following links:
This is an interactive link that requires Adobe Flash: http://www.bigmyth.com
List of several creation myths: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_creation_myths
Some ancient creation myths: https://www.learnreligions.com/ancient-creation-myths-117871
Instructions
For this assignment you create a presentation ( PowerPoint or Presi )for which you will need to find and research a creation story from a culture and/or belief that is considered NON-WESTERN (meaning NO countries of western Europe and North America unless indigenous and NO Jewish, Christian or Muslim creation stories (from the three Abrahamic religions).
Here is a list of acceptable NON-WESTERN areas for research:The nations and cultures of Central and East Asia (including Mongolia, China, Japan, Vietnam, North Korea and South Korea, etc.)
Africa (including Egypt)
The indigenous cultures of North and South American and Australia (including the Pacific and Oceanic Islands)
India
Ancient Middle Eastern or European creation myths (including Norse, Babylonian, Greek, Finnish, Persian, etc.)
If you are unsure if your creation story falls into the “non-western” criteria, please ask your professor.
Click here for specific instructions for your presentation.
To be aware of our own creation is unique to humans, and this week you discovered through your research how culturally and geographically diverse our explanations of creation are. Discuss what you have learned from this creation myth in 5-6 sentences by reflecting upon the following:What similarities do you find between your non-western creation myth and the story of Genesis, if any?
Discuss how learning a belief different from you has challenged you or engaged you.
Please include any final thoughts you would like to share.