Mythology, The Biblical Creation Myth
The Biblical creation myth, outlined in Genesis, has become so ingrained into the consciousness of most "peoples of the book" that the story of Adam, Eve, and the Garden of Eden seem nearly historical. Like any great myth, the Biblical creation story has become an indelible part of the Western mindset and therefore fulfills all four of the functions of myth that Joseph Campell discusses. First, the creation myth in Genesis serves a metaphysical function, by drawing attention to the mystery of creation and God's role in human destiny. Second, the creation myth serves a cosmological function by clearly referring to Semitic schematic of the universe including the amount of time it took for God to create the world. Third, like all myths, the Biblical creation story serves a sociological function in that it proscribes specific moral and ethical codes that lie at the heart of Western civilization. Finally, the myth has pedagogical purpose in pointing to potential rites of passage and t
The "void" and the "darkness" that once enveloped the earth have mythical meanings (Genesis 1:2). Words like "firmament" add to the mystical depths of the Genesis creation myth (Genesis 1:6). eaching individuals how to navigate through the various stages of their lives and live harmoniously with fellow humans. As a relatively minute aspect of creation, however, humankind comprises the bulk of the remainder of the Biblical creation story. Their state of innocence and their state of pollution after the fall also serve as strong pedagogical messages. Moreover, the Biblical creation myth includes direct numerical references that add order and structure to the idea and process of creation. The Biblical creation story may in fact be the most notable of all extant creation myths in fulfilling all of Joseph Campbell's four functions of mythology. Instead, the myth allows the human being to feel emotionally the ineffable power of God and the wonder of creation. The sharp distinction between male and female and the implied superiority of the male over the female has perpetuated sexism throughout most Western societies based on the Bible. In fact, when Adam and Eve enter the Garden of Eden in the second chapter of Genesis, they help define the character of the cultures derived from the Bible including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Moreover, "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters," inviting contemplation of the origins of the universe without requiring logic or reason (Genesis 1:2). Early sections of Genesis do not yet refer to the creation of humankind, but rather to the vastness of the universe and the wealth of the cosmos. Furthermore, Adam and Eve, as the first human, begin as virgins; they have yet to experience the lure and mundane gratification of sexual union. The metaphysical functions of the Biblical creation myth include a stimulation of the wonder of God's creation and of the divine origins of the manifest universe.
Common topics in this essay:
Joseph Campell,
Campbell Biblical,
Spirit God,
Adam Eve,
Finally Biblical,
Garden Eden,
Moreover Biblical,
biblical creation,
,
Islam Human,
creation story,
biblical creation story,
creation myth,
adam eve,
biblical creation myth,
Joseph Campbell's,
creation humankind,
story adam eve,
vastness universe,
western civilization,
genesis 12,
male female,
western civilization finally,
cosmological function,
creation myth genesis,
|
Acceptance Essays
