Lucas Spelsberg (10/18): Creation Myths

I find some of the proposed interpretations of Adam and Eve's story fascinating. I know one interpretation that we discussed in class is that land and our relationship with nature are cursed and will forever be detrimental because of the events in Eden. Religious stories and creation myths seem to play a major role in most religions' relationship with the natural world and everyday life. I feel as though most stories within religious texts involve some sort of nature-related themes such as the parting of the Red Sea or Animism and the belief that nature is possessed by spirits. I think nature is the basis for most religions because nature ultimately provides humans with everything we have. The most obvious example of tensions that have occurred because of differences in cultural beliefs are between colonizers and Native Americans. Many cultural heritage sites that seem to simply be a natural landscapes to the Christian settlers may have held great importance to Indigenous people.

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