Download Creation Myths vs. The Scientific Theory

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
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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.
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
- 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.
- most Christian Europeans believed in this Great Chain of Being
- all living organisms were created and ranked from the
simplest to complex (humans were on top)
- according to Ussher, this theory was divinely inspired
Scientific Theories
Charles Darwin
Evolutionary Theory
- 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.
Scientific Theories
Charles Darwin
Evolutionary Theory
(cont’d)
- 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.
For evolution to function, the follow must occur:
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Variation – each individual in a population is different
Inheritance – genes are passed down from parents
Selection –
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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
Scientific Theories
Big Bang Theory
- 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?