Creation Stories from Around the World

[Tahuti]

I view all of these myths are equivalent, yet members of these religions would view that as offensive. Am I being offensive, those who believe?

I don't think it is offensive as someone who has a somewhat mystical world view. Religion and mythology are important in understanding humans and pretty much everything that is not predictable. It is rather sad that the emergence of scientific knowledge about the origins of the universe was taken to be sign that religion and mythology are disproven.

 

[warpus]

It is rather sad that the emergence of scientific knowledge about the origins of the universe was taken to be sign that religion and mythology are disproven.

Religions tend to make grand sweeping statements about the nature of reality. As more things are figured out using science instead, yeah, some people are going to say that. To most religious people it shouldn't matter though, as they are not in the extremist "We believe everything it says in our holy book literally, word for word".. I suppose I'm talking about the west, but there are a lot of religious people out there who don't make those grand sweeping statements about reality. They don't think the world is 600 years old or that the ark really existed, so there isn't much there for science to disprove. They believe things outside of the realm of science, for the most part.

I've just had a really tough time explaining to some Christians in the past that to me their religion is on the same level of acceptance as every single other religion around the world that's generally accepted as being a bona fide religion. It's how I'm able to compare the Adam story to other creation myths from other religions, without placing one above the other. I've encountered a lot of misunderstanding and even hate, so I thought I'd be open here and see if anyone cares.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Religion and mythology are important in understanding humans and pretty much everything that is not predictable

“Tiger got to hunt, bird got to fly;
Man got to sit and wonder 'why, why, why?'
Tiger got to sleep, bird got to land;
Man got to tell himself he understand.”

 

[cybrxkhan]

My favorite creation myth is one of the several known ancient Egyptian ones where the original god (Atum, Amen, Ra, or some other one depending on the source and time period) masturbate to create the world (or, rather, creates two other gods (his children) who then go on to make more gods and goddesses). In some variations I heard this original god masturbates, swallows his semen, and then spits it out to create the world.

I just find it hilarious, frankly.

 

[Kyriakos]

Well, not quite self-swallowing of genetic material, but iirc Aprhodite was born by Zeus' sperm falling to the sea. Even her name etymologically means risen out of the (sea) foam.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

My favorite creation myth is one of the several known ancient Egyptian ones where the original god (Atum, Amen, Ra, or some other one depending on the source and time period) masturbate to create the world (or, rather, creates two other gods (his children) who then go on to make more gods and goddesses). In some variations I heard this original god masturbates, swallows his semen, and then spits it out to create the world.

I just find it hilarious, frankly.

Makes more sense than a God just saying it is so I guess. Semen creates live. Of course it requires a partner, but well. That is ancient culture of machos for you.

 

[timtofly]

Not to be too contrarian, but semen would be the passing on of DNA which would be an ancient form of evolution. Creating something out of nothing or taking matter and changing it to a living thing is not passing on one's seed and it "evolving" into a "lower" life form.