Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Creation Stories

Well, I'm taking another Rock Art class and finding it fascinating. Tonight we talked about creation stories shown in rock art panels in our area probably made by the Anasazi Indians. It's amazing how close they follow the standard Christian stories. Mother Earth was visited by Sun Father and gave birth to twin sons-Monster slayer and Born for Water. (The symbols on the left are from a Fremont rock art panel in Utah. The spiral symbol can represent migration from the spirit world to earth or to the next life.)

From Wikipedia...A creation myth is a supernatural mytho-religious story or explanation that describes the beginnings of humanity, earth, life, and the universe (cosmogony), usually as a deliberate act of "creation" by one or more deities. Many creation myths share broadly similar themes. Common motifs include the fractionation of the things of the world from a primordial chaos; the separation of the mother and father gods; land emerging from an infinite and timeless ocean; or creation out of nothing. I find it strangely comforting that other cultures feel the need to explain their beginnings for that gives our lives now meaning.

There is more to read and study about this topic whatever your religion or beliefs.