American Native Examples
Okay, you want more. Let's forget the Babylonians, the Greeks and those
Romans. Let's go to the creation stories of the American Indians. We can agree
that there is no way that anything those Babylonians ever did that influenced
the people of the North American continent. What did they believe before all
those Europeans came over and changed their whole lives?
Let's look at the Hopi People and their view of life. Note how "Jeru-shalom"
means "City of "Peace" and how "Ishlam" means "Peace" and how "Hopi" means
"Peace", each in their own languages.
Of course, it is just a coincidence,
isn't it? As you read below, remember the book of Genesis.
- They believed that in what they refer to as the First World, called "Tokpela"
only endless space existed. The creator, Taiowa was there. He had a
nephew named Sotuknang (note the comparison to the Father-Son relationship
that Jesus claims) through whom all things were created. Reading their texts
sounds very, very much like Genesis. But, that's not what we are focusing on.
We are hear to move on in the story, onto the flood, right? Let's find Noah in
their story!
- Their second world meets many of the descriptions from Genesis of Eden.
This "second world" is called "Tokpa".
- Well, they got kicked out of Tokpa because they were greedy. (I am not
making this up, you go study and find out for yourself by clicking the link
below!) So, they got sent to the third world, "Kuskurza".
- Here they got so nasty and warlike that they were destroyed by a flood
and saved by Sotuknang. They sent birds out looking for dry land on which they
could live!
- They reached a temporary place (this is the space between the flood and
the tower) where they didn't stay before coming to the fourth world, "Tuwaqachi",
translated "World Complete". That's where they live now! Here, they split
up and started their migrations.
Okay, you don't want to hear about the Hopi, and what they believe. By the
way, the information above came from the book by Frank Waters, "Book
of the Hopi: The First Revelation of the Hopi's Historical and Religious
Worldview of Life" which you can purchase by clicking the link.
Let's move to the Navajo, okay? Let's look at their creation story. It is not
exactly like the others, but you will find a thread going through it that goes
through Genesis, too. Their information is from the book "Dine
bahane: The Navajo Creation Story" which you can also purchase.
- Like the Hopi, they break historical sections into "worlds", though they
have a different count. By their reckoning, the "fourth world" had major
problems (the man named everything there, too and after he and his wife mess
up they are given furs to wear!) and was destroyed by a flood. They
waters were very hard to survive, but they succeeded into getting into this
world, the "fifth". They also believe in worlds after this one, and are
hopeful about them.
- After emerging from this flood, the man and woman build a mountain!
(Okay, it's not quite the tower, but if a tower was really big wouldn't you
call it a mountain?)
Here's something from the Oglala Souix. It is taken from the book "The
Sacred Pipe: Black Elk's Account of the Seven Rites of the Oglala Souix"
also available. Here we do not have creation story information, but things about
their relationship with the Creator, which parallels much found in the Bible,
even though they never had access to it!
- "We should understand well that all things are the works of the Great
Spirit."
- "Even more important, we should understand that He is above all these
things and peoples."
- "When we do understand all this deeply in our hearts, then we will fear,
and love, and know the Great Spirit, and then we will be and act and live as
He intends."
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