How do we use Religion?

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How do we use Religion?

• Creation Myths
• Science for Public Understanding

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Religion

• Why do civilizations have religion???

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BENCHMARK LESSON

• Turn Open to your Benchmark Page
• As we go through the Myths begin thinking about
  the tasks you have to complete for this activity.

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BoshongoCreation Myth From central Africa

• In the beginning there was only darkness, water,
  and the great god Bumba. One day Bumba, in pain
  from a stomach-ache, vomited up the sun. The sun
  dried up some of the water, leaving land. Still
  in pain, Bumba vomited up the moon, the stars,
  and then some animals the leopard, the
  crocodile, the turtle, and, finally, some men,
  one of whom, Yoko Lima was white like Bumba.

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Egyptian Creation Myth

• In the beginning there was only the swirling
  watery chaos, called Nu. Out of these chaotic
  waters rose Atum, the sun god of the city of
  Heliopolis. Atum created himself, using his
  thoughts and will. In the watery chaos, Atum
  found no place on which to stand. In the place
  where he first appeared, he created a hill. His
  next act was to create more gods.

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Because he was all alone in the world, without a
mate, Atum, the great He-She made a union with
his shadow. Atum gave birth to his son by
spitting him out. His daughter he vomited. Shu
represented the air and Tefnut was a goddess of
moisture. Shu and Tefnut continued the act of
creation by establishing a social order. To this
order Shu contributed the 'principles of Life'
while Tefnut contributed the 'principles of
order'.
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Tahitian Creation Myth

• He was. Taaroa was his name.He stood in the
  void no earth, no sky, no men.Taaroa calls the
  four corners of the universe nothing
  replies.Alone existing, he changes himself into
  the universe.Taaroa is the light, he is the
  seed, he is the base, he is the
  incorruptible.The universe is only the shell of
  Taaroa.It is he who puts it in motion and brings
  forth its harmony.

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InuitCreation Myth

• It is said that Raven made the world. He is a man
  with a raven's beak. When the waters forced the
  ground up from the deep Raven stabbed it with his
  beak and fixed it into place. This first land was
  just big enough for the house that was on it.
  There were three people in the house. This was a
  family with a man, his wife and their little son
  Raven who had fixed the land.

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The father had a bladder hanging over his bed.
After much pleading by Raven the father allowed
the boy to play with it. While playing Raven
damaged the bladder and light appeared. The
father not wanting to have light always shining
took the bladder from the boy before he could
damage it further. And that is how day and night
started over the land.
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Why use Religion?

• In the absence of modern science, religion helped
  ancient people to explain the unexplainable
  things in life and in the world.