Native American creation stories from Indians.org: Creation, Migration and Origin Stories

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Comparison of Two Creation Myths

Myths:

• Native American Creation Story: The Sky Woman
• Hindu Creation Story: The Hiranyagarbha

Philosophical View of Nature:

• Native American Creation Story: Naturalism

Naturalism is the philosophical view that nature is all there is, and that there is no supernatural or transcendent reality. The Native American creation story of the Sky Woman embodies this view in a number of ways. For example, the story begins with the Sky Woman falling to the primordial ocean, where she creates the earth and all of its creatures using mud and reeds. This suggests that the natural world is self-sufficient and does not require a supernatural creator.

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    Additionally, the story emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living things. The Sky Woman gives birth to twins, one of whom creates the land and the other of whom creates the sea and sky. This suggests that the natural world is a unified whole, and that humans are an integral part of it.

• Hindu Creation Story: The Hiranyagarbha

The Hindu creation story of the Hiranyagarbha embodies a dualistic view of nature. Dualism is the philosophical view that there are two fundamental realities: the material world and the spiritual world. The Hiranyagarbha story begins with the god Brahma emerging from a golden egg that floats in the primordial waters. Brahma then creates the universe, including the material world and the human race. This story suggests that the material world and the spiritual world are separate and distinct realms. It also suggests that Brahma is the supreme creator of the material world, and that humans are subordinate to him. Religious Perspective on the Supernatural:

• Native American Creation Story: Pantheism

Pantheism is the religious perspective that God is identical to the natural world. The Native American creation story of the Sky Woman embodies this perspective in a number of ways. For example, the story suggests that the Sky Woman is the source of all life and that she is present in all of creation. Additionally, the story emphasizes the sacredness of the natural world. The Sky Woman's instructions to her children are to respect the earth and all of its creatures. This suggests that the natural world is not simply a resource for human exploitation, but rather a sacred space that should be revered and protected.

• Hindu Creation Story: The Hiranyagarbha

The Hindu creation story of the Hiranyagarbha embodies a monotheistic perspective on the supernatural. Monotheism is the religious perspective that there is only one God. The Hiranyagarbha story begins with the god Brahma emerging from a golden egg that floats in the primordial waters. Brahma then creates the universe, including the material world and the human race. This story suggests that Brahma is the supreme creator of the universe and that there is no other god. It also suggests that humans are subordinate to Brahma and that they should worship him. Comparison of the Two Myths: The two creation myths differ in a number of ways. The Native American creation story of the Sky Woman embodies a naturalistic view of nature and a pantheistic perspective on the supernatural. The Hindu creation story of the Hiranyagarbha embodies a dualistic view of nature and a monotheistic perspective on the supernatural. Despite these differences, there are also some similarities between the two myths. Both myths emphasize the importance of creation and the interconnectedness of all living things. Additionally, both myths feature a female creator figure. Conclusion: The two creation myths that we have compared offer different perspectives on the nature of reality and the relationship between humans and the natural world. The Native American creation story of the Sky Woman embodies a naturalistic view of nature and a pantheistic perspective on the supernatural. The Hindu creation story of the Hiranyagarbha embodies a dualistic view of nature and a monotheistic perspective on the supernatural. Despite these differences, there are also some similarities between the two myths. Both myths emphasize the importance of creation and the interconnectedness of all living things. Additionally, both myths feature a female creator figure. Additional Comments: It is important to note that these are just two of the many creation myths that exist in the world. There are many other myths that embody different philosophical views of nature and religious perspectives on the supernatural. It is also important to note that these myths are not meant to be taken literally. They are symbolic stories that teach us about the world and our place in it.