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The Cherokee Creation Story Vs. Genesis 1-3

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The Cherokee creation story and the biblical account in Genesis 1–3 present contrasting viewpoints on the origins of the universe, offering insights into the way different cultures perceive the beginning of the world. While both narratives incorporate elements of creation and a significant flood, they differ significantly in their cosmology, moral implications, and the nature of their deities.
Firstly, the Cherokee creation story portrays a world initially characterized by peace and contentment, with no evil or sorrow. However, evil infiltrates this utopia, corrupting the minds of the people and leading to widespread wickedness (“Cherokee Creation Story,” 1996, para. 3). As a consequence, a great flood is sent to cleanse the world of the evildoers, leaving only the righteous individuals who were saved by the giant turtle (“Cherokee Creation Story,” 1996, para. …show more content…

God is the sole creator of the universe, forming it in a series of distinct stages over six days (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, Gen. 1). The moral aspect of this story arises from Adam and Eve's disobedience when they eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, which results in their expulsion from the Garden of Eden (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, Gen. 3). This event, known as the Fall, introduces the concept of original sin, highlighting the imperfection of humanity.
These two creation narratives provide valuable insights into the way different cultures perceive the beginnings of the universe. The Cherokee creation story reflects the Cherokee people's emphasis on moral behavior and the consequences of human actions. It reminds us of the importance of living in harmony with one another and with nature. On the other hand, Genesis 1-3 in the Bible highlights the concept of divine authority and the notion of original sin, which have influenced Western religious thought and moral frameworks for

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When we ask people about their thoughts on how the world was created, the first idea that comes to mind is the story of Genesis. Most people generally assume that there is only one account of creation, the account that portrays God as the sole creator since in the Genesis account he creates heaven, earth, man/woman, and other living things. However, Genesis is not the only face of creation because religious texts from different cultures tell us otherwise. In ancient near east religions, there are two creation myths that give their own different accounts. While some details of the Genesis account are similar to the Enuma Elish of Babylon and the Memphite Theology of Egypt, each account individually brings their own nationalistic pride and personal touch.

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Creation myths can give lots of information on the values of societies. Qualities of the Iroquois and the Wakaranga are shown in their myths. In “The World on the Turtle's Back” and “Life from the Moon and the Stars”, the Iroquois and the Wakaranga value human life above an animal’s life, however, the Wakaranga give moral divisions of right and wrong, but the Iroquois do not. The differences in their myths allow for readers to identify different characteristics in their societies, like the Iroquois’ justification of supposedly immoral actions, and the treatment of animals in both societies.

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In the Iroquois story, a woman is the creator while in the Book of Genesis God is described as a man. In the Iroquois community women are perceived as the source of sustenance and life, and the mother to men who have contributed to shaping the physical world. The Iroquois give credit to the woman for creating the world because women are perceived as givers of life and the people who sustain a man’s existence. Among the Native American tribes the earth is described to as a woman because women are viewed as producers of life; therefore it is not unnatural for the community to view a woman as a creator. Compared to the Iroquois creation story, in the Biblical creation story there is a belief that God created the world.

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