"A creation myth or cosmogonic myth is a type of cosmogony, a symbolic narrative of how the world began and how people first came to inhabit it."
Investigation of the different beliefs on how the world and the universe was created.
Big Bang Theory: The prevailing scientific theory of the origin of the universe, which posits that the universe began as a single, incredibly dense and hot point and has been expanding ever since.
Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation: The faint "echo" of the Big Bang that fills the universe, which can be detected as low-level microwave radiation.
Dark Energy: A mysterious force that seems to be accelerating the expansion of the universe, despite the gravitational pull of matter.
Dark Matter: An invisible form of matter that does not interact with light or other electromagnetic radiation, but which has a gravitational effect on visible matter.
Inflationary Theory: A hypothesis about the earliest moments of the universe, which suggests that the universe underwent a period of extremely rapid expansion in the fraction of a second after the Big Bang.
Multiverse Theory: The idea that our universe is just one of many possible universes, which may have different properties and laws of physics.
Creation Myths: The stories, legends, and traditions from various cultures and religious traditions about how the world and the universe were created.
Intelligent Design: A theory that suggests the complexity and order of the universe and life on Earth are evidence of an intelligent creator.
Evolution: The scientific theory that explains how species gradually change and evolve over time, shaped by natural selection and other factors.
Biblical Creationism: The belief that the account of creation in the Book of Genesis in the Bible is a literal, historical account of how the world and the universe were created.
Big Bang Cosmology: The dominant scientific theory of the creation of the universe that proposes an expansion of energy and matter from a singularity.
Abrahamic Cosmology: The monotheistic religious views of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam that outline a god or deity as the creator of the universe.
Hindu Cosmology: Indian religious traditions that describe cycles of creation and destruction in endless time, where creation is the result of the play of the gods.
Norse Cosmology: The mythology of the Norse people, that describes the creation of the universe from the chaotic emptiness of the void "Ginnungagap.".
Taoist Cosmology: Chinese religious traditions that focus on the balance of Yin and Yang, illustrating the creation of the universe as emerging from the interaction of these two forces.
Mythological Cosmology: Various cultural beliefs that employ myths and stories to explain the origins of the universe.
Indigenous Cosmology: Traditional knowledge and teachings of indigenous populations, which describe the lands around them as holy and imbued with spiritual force.
Esoteric Cosmology: Spiritual and philosophical theories that describe the creation of the universe as an expression of consciousness or the divine.
Extraterrestrial Cosmology: The idea that the universe was created or influenced by advanced beings, possibly from other worlds or dimensions.
Scientific Cosmology: The study of the physical origins and evolution of the universe, which seek to explain the natural processes that led to the current state of matter and energy.
"While in popular usage the term myth often refers to false or fanciful stories, members of cultures often ascribe varying degrees of truth to their creation myths."
"In the society in which it is told, a creation myth is usually regarded as conveying profound truths – metaphorically, symbolically, historically, or literally."
"They are commonly, although not always, considered cosmogonical myths – that is, they describe the ordering of the cosmos from a state of chaos or amorphousness."
"Creation myths often share several features. They often are considered sacred accounts and can be found in nearly all known religious traditions."
"They are all stories with a plot and characters who are either deities, human-like figures, or animals, who often speak and transform easily."
"They are often set in a dim and nonspecific past that historian of religion Mircea Eliade termed in illo tempore ('at that time')."
"Creation myths address questions deeply meaningful to the society that shares them, revealing their central worldview and the framework for the self-identity of the culture and individual in a universal context."
"Creation myths develop in oral traditions and therefore typically have multiple versions."
"Found throughout human culture, they are the most common form of myth."
"Members of cultures often ascribe varying degrees of truth to their creation myths."
"A creation myth is usually regarded as conveying profound truths – metaphorically, symbolically, historically, or literally."
"Creation myths address questions deeply meaningful to the society that shares them, revealing their central worldview and the framework for the self-identity of the culture and individual in a universal context."
"They are all stories with a plot and characters who are either deities, human-like figures, or animals, who often speak and transform easily."
"They often are considered sacred accounts and can be found in nearly all known religious traditions."
"They are often set in a dim and nonspecific past that historian of religion Mircea Eliade termed in illo tempore ('at that time')."
"Creation myths develop in oral traditions and therefore typically have multiple versions."
"Creation myths address questions deeply meaningful to the society that shares them, revealing their central worldview and the framework for the self-identity of the culture and individual in a universal context."
"A creation myth is usually regarded as conveying profound truths – metaphorically, symbolically, historically, or literally."
"Found throughout human culture, they are the most common form of myth."