Comparing the Creation Theories

Cosmic Creation: Comparing the Creation Theories

Judeo and Hindu Theological, Cultural, and Social Influences

Michael Surla

12/14/2014

Humanities 105

Professor Mary Ellen Greenwood

Creation theories throughout civilization encompass every religious, scientific, and mystical belief systems known and some perhaps unknown to man. Within the multiple theories the are two such that are so far apart in agreement one may begin to question their own belief system as a result of the confusion generated in studying the claims of each theory and culture. The one thing that is certain and consistent in both theories forces far greater than mankind reached out to humanity providing everything pertaining to life, the survival of future generations, the ability to thrive on the planet.

The Created Cosmos

Each theory of displays very different accounts of the creation and are taking place in many different ways. In the Hindu account exhibits more of a metaphysical realm. "The world, as it appears to the human mind, seems separate from the self and composed of many discrete objects and other selves. Yet, according to the Hindu sages, our customary distinction between subject and object is an error based on illusion. In this view, the entire universe is one entity, called Brahman". (Leonard & McClure, 2004)

"Each great creation-destruction cycle is called a kalpa, a day in the life of Brahma. Hindu metaphysics assumes the earth and all things are created and destroyed over and over again and will end eventually in a great apocalypse called Mahapralya. Between each cycle, chaos reigns for 100 years, represented, by a vast ocean." (Mitchell, 2014)

The Genesis account by most Judeo- Christian beliefs is believed to begin in what traditionally is known as the Torah, also the first five books of the Christian Bible. Being a monotheistic religion that is confirmed by Judeo, Islamic, and Christian tradition there is a scenario that takes place at creation that backs up traditional thought and religious belief. The scriptures begin with the very first verse of Genesis in translated from Hebrew states, "In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth." According to Genesis God created all that exist in six days, it is not known nor can it be proven that the six days are in a time frame that we would consider a 24 hour day. In fact many biblical scholars have concluded yet still unproven that between the first and second verse of Genesis a span of billions or millions of years are possible and this could also mean the in the blink of an eye the creation could have taken place." (Dake, 1963)

According to scripture there was a mass called earth that was without form and void it was by all accounts without life at all. It states that god spoke into existence all things pertaining to creation of the earth, and all the universe, along with every living creature, and finally mankind was brought forth in Adam the man.

The Creators

In most Hindu mythologies Brahma was considered the creator god, then later his role was compromised when sectarian traditions gave way to a different role for Brahma. Sectarian Hindu gave Vishnu, Siva, or Devi the author and creator of the universe, the only self-existent one. Later mythology gave way to the appearance of a golden