The creation of the world has always been one of the biggest mysteries of humanity. Some people believe in the scientific theory of the Big Bang, according to which the Universe was formed as a result of a massive explosion in space. Others support religious views, such as the creation of the world by God. As for me, I believe that only divine forces could create the world that is so logical, detailed, and organized; therefore, I support the Christian theory of creation.
According to the Bible, the world was created by God in seven days (English Standard Version Bible, n.d., Genesis 1:1-2:3). All things on Earth did not appear immediately; at first, God created heaven and earth, later – day and night, seas, mountains, flora and fauna. Finally, an important part of the story is the creation of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, on the sixth day (English Standard Version Bible, n.d., Genesis 2:6). Since many things in the world cannot be explained by science, I believe that religion may be an answer to the question of creation.
There are some differences between the Christian theory and the Iroquois creation story:
- According to the Iroquois myth, long before Earth was created, there was a sky island (Hale, 2018). In the Bible, it is underlined that nothing except God existed before the world emerged.
- The Christian theory suggests that the world was created by God alone. As for the Iroquois myth, it was discovered by a Sky woman that fell from the floating island and was created together with other creatures.
- In the Iroquois story, the world was discovered incidentally, while according to the Bible, it was gradually made (Hale, 2018).
As for similarities, it is possible to notice that a tree is an important symbol of both stories. According to the Bible, a tree of life was created by God in the middle of the Garden of Eden (English Standard Version Bible, n.d., Genesis 2:9). In the Iroquois Creation Story, a tree was growing in the middle of the floating island (Hale, 2018). Similarly to the Biblical tree, it was a tree of life, and it gave light to people instead of the sun. Therefore, in both stories, a tree symbolizes the beginning and the center of life.
Reference
English Standard Version Bible (n.d.). English Standard Version. Web.
Hale, L. K. (2018). Journey: From a foreign land to a promised paradise. WestBow Press.