After reading the Creation Story in Genesis Chapter 1, and comparing it to the document "Explanation of Directions," post your response regarding the similarities of their concepts of God.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
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Carolyn Garcia Religion 12 Independent Study September 2, 2007 Genesis and the 7 Directions
People are naturally curious about how the world began and how they and the things around them originated. Because of this innate curiosity, many cultures have invented creation stories that explain how the world began. The Native American people and the Jewish people are examples of two such races, and although they were far apart both chronologically and geographically, their stories have a great deal of parallels. Both tales stem from the belief that there exists a God, and all-powerful being, who created the earth and everything therein, including humans. In the first chapter of Genesis, God was the only being in existence, and what was to be the earth was at that time an abyss, without even dry land or light. Lakota legend also states that God created everything in all four directions, as well as the sky and the planets (paralleled in Gn.1, 6-8 and Gn. 14), the earth (Gn. 9) , and all that is within, or the essence of every person and thing (Gn. 11-13; 20-27). Genesis 1: 6-8 and Genesis 1: 14-18 tell of God creating the sky and all of the celestial bodies which mark the days and the seasons. Genesis 1:9 tells of the creation of dry land (the “Earth”). Everything that grows or lives on the earth, vegetation, animals, and people, are created in Genesis 1: 11-13; 20-27. Thus, in both legends, God is in total control and is the creator of all things. It is important to note that although the Native American creation story involves seven directions, the Native Americans believed in only one God, who created all seven directions and is manifested in all of them, just as God shows throughout his creation in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Seven is also a very important number in both tales; in the Lakota creation story there are seven directions (east, west, south, north, above, below, and within), and in Genesis 1 God creates the earth in seven days. Seven is a number of balance and of unity between heaven and earth, important in both traditions. Another important aspect of both stories is the fundamental goodness of God and thus the goodness of his creation. Genesis 1 states repeatedly, after God has made a new creation, “…and God saw that it was good.” When speaking of the creation of humans Genesis states “God created man in His own image”, and He blesses them by saying, “ Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth…” Likewise, in Lakota spirituality, God provides humans with a path of growth and change, progressing from birth, to adolescence, to adulthood, to age (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual being and maturity). In both legends, God is a good an beneficial creator, who does not leave what he has created alone, but gives them all they need to survive and grow closer to him. Since God is good, it follows that all of his creations, things that are loved by him, are good as well. It is important to see the similarities between these creation stories. If two cultures so far removed from each other can independently come up with stories that are so alike, in which the major tenants are exactly the same, that is powerful evidence of the existence of a God who created all things, loved His creation, and wanted them all to come to know Him. The differences are negligible; mere cultural anomalies. The message remains the same and that is because God, who is the ultimate Truth, can manifest Himself to different peoples everywhere and in every time on Earth, and that is what He has done.
Willie Romano Religion Comparing Jewish and Native Americans View of God
I found that the Jewish and Native American views are the same. In Genesis Chapter 1 it states that God created the earth and everything in it. God did this in seven days. God created the water and sky , seperated day from night. God created the plants and tree's and living creatures and man. In Genesis Chapter 1 it tells how God made us in his likeness to rule over the fish birds and animals. God wanted everything to multiply. Jewish and Native Americans both believe that God created the earth and everything in it. Native Americans have the same belief but explain it in a different way. The seven directions explains everything God created. Such as the East is our birth and creation and the earth. Each direction is a different meaning. Native Americans And Jewish believe that there is only one God who created the earth and people in the likeness of his image. In all seven directions it talks about all the things that God created in Genesis Chapter 1. The seven directions East,South,West,North,Above,Below and Within are all talking about the creations of God. From our physical being or birth to the water, air, mother earth, seasons and our spirtual self. It is all brought back to the same belief of one God and we were all made in his likeness for the same reasons to love God and one another.
I would like to first start off and state that I do not think that the Jewish and Native American views of God are exactly the same, there are always little things in a culture that are quite different from another. This can even be simplified to that some people that believe in God go to different places to worship God(i.e. church). An example is here in America we have many different types of churches, such as Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, and all these believe in God, but they don't have exactly the same views on God.
But I will agree that both the Native American and Jewish views on God are very similar. Both views have God creating His everything in seven days. Although it is days in the Bible, the '7 directions' would relate to the '7 days' in the Bible. It is quite stunning to see the similarties in both the first chapter of Genesis and the 7 Directions. Immidetly when reading the 7 directions, you can compare it easily to first chapter of Genesis, with the East where life begins, just like in verse three of Genesis, where God creates light, the start of the world. An example to compare their views is that both people believe God created the earth in '7'. These '7's have in it, each describing what was done in each one. For example, in Genesis 1:6, And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.", and this can be compared to the sencond direction of the Native Americans, where under the South, there was an element of water. It is quite indulging to learn about different religions and cultures and to find out that many cultures have the same One God. Just like the Native American Culture and the Jewish, their veiws on God are strikinly similar and it's quite intriging to know there are other people, who's culture is quite different from your own, but they have the same exact God as yourself.
3 comments:
Carolyn Garcia
Religion 12 Independent Study
September 2, 2007
Genesis and the 7 Directions
People are naturally curious about how the world began and how they and the things around them originated. Because of this innate curiosity, many cultures have invented creation stories that explain how the world began. The Native American people and the Jewish people are examples of two such races, and although they were far apart both chronologically and geographically, their stories have a great deal of parallels.
Both tales stem from the belief that there exists a God, and all-powerful being, who created the earth and everything therein, including humans. In the first chapter of Genesis, God was the only being in existence, and what was to be the earth was at that time an abyss, without even dry land or light. Lakota legend also states that God created everything in all four directions, as well as the sky and the planets (paralleled in Gn.1, 6-8 and Gn. 14), the earth (Gn. 9) , and all that is within, or the essence of every person and thing (Gn. 11-13; 20-27). Genesis 1: 6-8 and Genesis 1: 14-18 tell of God creating the sky and all of the celestial bodies which mark the days and the seasons. Genesis 1:9 tells of the creation of dry land (the “Earth”). Everything that grows or lives on the earth, vegetation, animals, and people, are created in Genesis 1: 11-13; 20-27. Thus, in both legends, God is in total control and is the creator of all things. It is important to note that although the Native American creation story involves seven directions, the Native Americans believed in only one God, who created all seven directions and is manifested in all of them, just as God shows throughout his creation in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Seven is also a very important number in both tales; in the Lakota creation story there are seven directions (east, west, south, north, above, below, and within), and in Genesis 1 God creates the earth in seven days. Seven is a number of balance and of unity between heaven and earth, important in both traditions.
Another important aspect of both stories is the fundamental goodness of God and thus the goodness of his creation. Genesis 1 states repeatedly, after God has made a new creation, “…and God saw that it was good.” When speaking of the creation of humans Genesis states “God created man in His own image”, and He blesses them by saying, “ Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth…” Likewise, in Lakota spirituality, God provides humans with a path of growth and change, progressing from birth, to adolescence, to adulthood, to age (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual being and maturity). In both legends, God is a good an beneficial creator, who does not leave what he has created alone, but gives them all they need to survive and grow closer to him. Since God is good, it follows that all of his creations, things that are loved by him, are good as well.
It is important to see the similarities between these creation stories. If two cultures so far removed from each other can independently come up with stories that are so alike, in which the major tenants are exactly the same, that is powerful evidence of the existence of a God who created all things, loved His creation, and wanted them all to come to know Him. The differences are negligible; mere cultural anomalies. The message remains the same and that is because God, who is the ultimate Truth, can manifest Himself to different peoples everywhere and in every time on Earth, and that is what He has done.
Willie Romano
Religion
Comparing Jewish and Native Americans View of God
I found that the Jewish and Native American views are the same. In Genesis Chapter 1 it states that God created the earth and everything in it. God did this in seven days.
God created the water and sky , seperated day from night. God created the plants and tree's and living creatures and man.
In Genesis Chapter 1 it tells how God made us in his likeness to rule over the fish birds and animals. God wanted everything to multiply.
Jewish and Native Americans both believe that God created the earth and everything in it.
Native Americans have the same belief but explain it in a different way.
The seven directions explains everything God created. Such as the East is our birth and creation and the earth. Each direction is a different meaning.
Native Americans And Jewish believe that there is only one God who created the earth and people in the likeness of his image.
In all seven directions it talks about all the things that God created in Genesis Chapter 1.
The seven directions East,South,West,North,Above,Below and Within are all talking about the creations of God. From our physical being or birth to the water, air, mother earth, seasons and our spirtual self.
It is all brought back to the same belief of one God and we were all made in his likeness for the same reasons to love God and one another.
I would like to first start off and state that I do not think that the Jewish and Native American views of God are exactly the same, there are always little things in a culture that are quite different from another. This can even be simplified to that some people that believe in God go to different places to worship God(i.e. church). An example is here in America we have many different types of churches, such as Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, and all these believe in God, but they don't have exactly the same views on God.
But I will agree that both the Native American and Jewish views on God are very similar. Both views have God creating His everything in seven days. Although it is days in the Bible, the '7 directions' would relate to the '7 days' in the Bible. It is quite stunning to see the similarties in both the first chapter of Genesis and the 7 Directions. Immidetly when reading the 7 directions, you can compare it easily to first chapter of Genesis, with the East where life begins, just like in verse three of Genesis, where God creates light, the start of the world.
An example to compare their views is that both people believe God created the earth in '7'. These '7's have in it, each describing what was done in each one. For example, in Genesis 1:6, And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.", and this can be compared to the sencond direction of the Native Americans, where under the South, there was an element of water.
It is quite indulging to learn about different religions and cultures and to find out that many cultures have the same One God. Just like the Native American Culture and the Jewish, their veiws on God are strikinly similar and it's quite intriging to know there are other people, who's culture is quite different from your own, but they have the same exact God as yourself.
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