Creation stories, or myths, that account for the origin of the universe, the Earth, the continents, mountains, rivers, life, or the first humans–these can provide a common purpose and unity.

Nation states have their own creation stories. But countries are demarcated by artificial political boundaries. Their creation stories tend to reflect history as written by the victors in politics and war. They are more likely to generate conflict, separatism, and polarization than indigenous creation stories. 

The woman who falls from the sky is a great Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) creation story.  In many Indigenous creation stories, the first humans are interacting with other creatures. 

Sometimes animals dive into the depths of the ocean to bring up the material that becomes the continents, like our own Turtle Island.

Sky people versus bringing up material from the depths—both are important aspects of creation. 

The question isn’t whether stories are “true,” but whether they enrich our lives and cultures.

Western science has competing creation stories for the origins of life. Some scientists maintain that life came from the sky, perhaps from outside our........

© rabble