Creation Stories vs. The Scientific Theory It is important to remember that many of these creation stories were not intended for literal interpretation. Yet, they are valid accounts, if even only in a symbolic or spiritual sense. Creation Myths are important as part of the beliefs of a civilization. (Odyssey Through the Ages)

Creation Stories Every culture has one or more creation story. They perform several functions: 1. It provides an account of the origin of the world 2. It tells the story of a people’s beginnings and their early history 3. It lays out the society’s world view and belief system 4. It explains the origin and meaning of a people’s rules of social behaviour

Creation Stories ‘GIST’ Summaries In a few moments, you will be working in small expert groups analyzing one creation myth. Make a chart that contains space for a brief description of each creation myth: record the name, 2 or 3 key gods, & a very, very brief description of the myth (highlights).

Creation Stories ‘GIST’ Summaries When your summary is finished you, the expert, will make a short presentation about your creation myth to your home group. Make sure to include the civilization or society that myth belonged to, 2 or 3 important gods, & a really brief description of your myth. When your summary is finished you, the expert, will make a short presentation about your creation myth to your home group. Make sure to include the civilization or society that myth belonged to, 2 or 3 important gods, & a really brief description of your myth.

Discussion Questions: 1. What are the similarities and differences between the Creation Myths? 2. Why are there such a variety of creation myths? 3. How does society react today to the variety of theories/myths? 4. Why is it important to look at other creation theories? 5. Why do we find it difficult to accept these individual accounts of creation? 6. Imagine the reaction to the Evolutionary Theory when it was first introduced by Charles Darwin in 1859?

MODERN THEORIES/STORIES OF CREATION

James Ussher The Great Chain of Being Theory - most Christian Europeans believed in this Great Chain of Being - 17th century archbishop who retraced the events of the Bible and calculated the exact time of creation - 9:00 am, October 23, 4004 B.C. - all living organisms were created and ranked from the simplest to complex (humans were on top) - according to Ussher, this theory was divinely inspired

Evolutionary Theory Charles Darwin Scientific Theories - Darwin’s highly controversial book “The Origin of the Species”, published in 1859, challenged biblical & other creation myths. - Darwin’s theory stated that man evolved over millions of years from an original one cell organism that originated in the oceans. - he believed that the direct action of the environment pushed biological adaptations. - change of essential features were key to the survival of a species.

Evolutionary Theory (cont’d) Charles Darwin Scientific Theories - Darwin’s theory based upon evolution by Natural Selection - Darwin supported his theory with hundreds of facts (based upon fossils & sketches) and observations collected during his extensive world-wide travels -Inspiration from the Galapagos Islands and their unusual native animals

V.I.S.T. Variation – each individual in a population is different Inheritance – genes are passed down from parents Selection – a) natural – useful traits survive; less useful ones disappear b) sexual – ‘attractive’ traits survive Time – some changes can be noticed in just a few generations (hair/eye colour), but major changes and new species can take thousands of years For evolution to function, the follow must occur:

Big Bang Theory Scientific Theories - another scientific theory presented after Charles Darwin’s theory. - a moment when the universe was created in an enormous explosion of compressed matter. - this occurred billions of years ago.

Present Day Discussions Fossils finds have neither totally supported or denied Darwin’s evolutionary theory but have indicated that the Earth is billions of years old and that humanity is millions of years old!

Something to Think about… What might the next stage in human evolution look like?