Saturday, October 17, 2009
Creation
I don't believe that either story is entirely believable literally, but the genesis story seems more like than the Native American's. The universe, while cyclic, has been proven to have begun at one single point and exploded from there. The layers seem to suggest other dimensions that basic and simple people are able to slip between. Plus, if they were able to literally create and balance an entire planet, shouldn't there be more at work than a man and a medicine bundle? I admit that if dimension traveling was possible it could work, but that is irrelevant as I find it ludicrous and without proof. Both stories have their flaws as they have been tainted by human hands as they were passed down, but more truth seems to ring and even back up Genesis.
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How do you mean? Don’t you think that the Genesis story seems just as impossible? I agree with you that both stories have their flaws, but what truth is there that backs up either one of them?
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with you, David. The world exploding from one point is a scientific theory, so as long as we throwing those out there the theory of evolution is one that hurts the Genesis story's argument. That is why the theory is so controversial. So since there are theories that prove both of them wrong, (at least you proved the Navajo story incorrect yourself)I'd say that neither one is more likely to be right then the other.
ReplyDeleteThese stories weren't designed to be believable, but rather fables that show us how desire and lust is wrong. I can understand where you are coming from, but the stories don't exist to play devil's advocate for science.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what sam said in regards to the big bang theory being controversial because it contradicted the story of Adam and Eve. Just having the big bang theory exist, and having strong evidence supporting makes me disagree with what David said. And also, taking a little from what Zach said, apparently there have been theories of multiple dimensions circling around -- and although there is no solid proof, having the idea as a theory is enough to make the Navajo story seem a little bit more likely than Genesis, simply because it has the brewing of a scientific theory to explain part of the story
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sam and Ben. I think the purpose of these stories are to create some kind of moral or a sense of foundation, not to define anything.
ReplyDeleteGreat exchange here, everyone. Glad to see you looking carefully and thinking carefully about the text and question.
ReplyDeleteDavid, I thought it interesting you thought humanity escaping from a hole in the sky far fetched. If you think about it, we currently have a hole in the sky (in the ozone layer) and we fly through it regularly on our way to space. If we ever start to populate other planets, won't the Navajo story suddenly look pretty forward thinking?
Then again, this is beside the point. The question was about truth, not the facts of history. Recall the words of the Rabbi in the PBS video on the early Hebrews? I'm paraphrasing here, but what he said was basically: "Just because something isn't factual, doesn't mean it's not true." He suggested it was immaterial whether Moses led 10,000 or 0 people out of Egypt. The story was true because it accurately depicted challenges all humans face when trying to hold on to their freedom.
Rethink the question in this sense.