Creation Stories

Creation Stories

Where do we come from? The creation of the world has for centuries been told through many different stories, in different languages, and from a variety of religions across the world. The founders of each religion developed every creation story, and as religions vary greatly in beliefs, so do their stories of how the world and mankind were created. Although many of these creation stories differ, they have a close mystical and spiritual bind that brings people together. Two particular creation stories from very diverse religions are that of the Native Americans and the Christians. Unlike Christians who worship one god, Native Americans worship two high gods as well as a variety of natural and supernatural forces. Although both stories may differ from one another in determining their belief of creation, they both are similar in which both religions believe that through ceremonies and worship that they will be at harmony with god. Through their creation stories we can interperate their understanding of the world around them, how they view life, and how they are compatible and incompatible with one another.

Native Americans believe that all things of nature have a spiritual value in life, they use animals, insects, plants, and other forms of nature to symbolize spirits in their stories. Native Americans have a variety of creation stories in which different tribes depict how they believe the world and evolution came to be. The Osage tribe has a creation story in which the world is emerged out of chaos; the Seneca tribe has a creation story in which the world came together through a clash of good and evil. The creation story that is found in many tribes is that of "Inktomi", also known as " spider woman" whom they believe created earth and life. They believe that spider woman spun a line to form the east, west, north, and south, from which came the Four Corners of the earth. Those who had forgotten the gift of her thread would drown in the great flood she sent, but for those who remembered they floated to the New World and climbed unto the safety of mother earth. The Native American creation story reveals that they understand the world to be a place of equality. In the following passage the creation of man is depicted from the use of different clays: " Spider woman used the clay of the earth, red, yellow, white, and black, to create people, and to each she attached a thread of her web which was the gift of creative wisdom."
From the spiritual value they have of nature and all its beings, it can be assumed that the Native Americans are very religious people who cherish and respect all life the same, whether its fellow man or animals in their habitat.

The Christian creation story is found in the book of Genesis, the first book of the bible. There are two creation stories out of the Christians beliefs, both out of the book of Genesis. In Genesis 1:1 to 2:3 the bible says that God created the heavens and earth in six days: On the first day the creation of light and its separation from darkness; On the second day the separation of the sky and oceans; On the third day separation of land from the oceans, spreading of plants, grass, and trees across the land; On the fourth day the creation of the sun, moon, and stars; On the fifth day creation of sea animals and birds; On day six creation of the land animals, creation of humanity. The other creation story comes from Genesis 2:4 to 2:25, it states that: At first, there were no plants or grain present, because God had not yet sent rain; Then God made Adam out of earth; He then created plants and herbs, Adam, the Garden of Eden, trees, birds and animals; Finally, God removed a rib from Adam and made it into the first woman, Eve. Christians belief of one God whom in which created all man from the same earth, may also be a factor of religion in which influences their understanding of the world. Meaning that they view all man as being created equal, brothers and sisters in his kingdom on earth. As for many Christians they believe that you have to live your life here on earth working for salvation by studying the bible, attending religious ceremonies, and through prayer. Through these beliefs they may view the world around them as a trial to determine the afterlife that awaits them.

The Native American visions of the world and the Christian visions of the world are both compatible and incompatible with one another. They are compatible with one another in which they both view the world around them as a gift from their divine one. The plants, animals, and other forms of nature around them all have an importance and value in their lives. They also are compatible with one another in the belief that they worship in ceremonies, prayers, and through practicing elements of their religions in order to be in harmony with the lord. Another aspect in the two religions that make them compatible with each other is that in both religions there are spiritual guides to direct them in their teachings of their religion; In the Native American religion every tribe has a spiritual guide known as the Shaman whom can receive messages from the high god and relay them to the tribe; In the Christian religion there are many branches of spiritual guides depending on what form of Christianity practiced, they conclude of the pope, priests, nuns, and pastures, whom read us the gospel and teach us the ways of Christ.
The Native American and Christian views of the world are incompatible with each other in the belief of what they consider holy. Native Americans worship two high gods as well as many natural and supernatural forces, while Christians worship only one God. Another view that is incompatible between the two religions is that of the afterlife. Christians believe that if you are saved then you reside after death in Gods kingdom, Heaven; But for some Native Americans they

Believe that when they die their soul takes form as a part of nature, whether a bird, tree, or wolf, and like their ancestors they will provide as a guardian for their people after them. After learning of the varying stories that the Native American and Christian religions depict of creation, I have come to the conclusion that they all have a similarity with one another despite their other differences. They both have the belief that a higher force, for the Native Americans it was the Spider Woman and for the Christians it was God, created the earth and humanity. For religions such as these the scientific explanation of creation holds no importance in their lives, because their faith and teachings of their creation story justifies their belief. Across the world the cultures, languages, and beliefs that separate people from one another are erased when it comes down to the story of our beginning, our creation story. Like seen in the compatibalities of the Christians and Native Americans their creation stories have for centuries interpreted their understanding of the world around them, spiritually binding people from all religions together.