Creation Stories

Which of the following is a common theme in many creation stories across cultures?

• The world is formed from the body of a giant or god

• Humans are always created first before animals and plants

• Creation always involves a battle between good and evil

• The earth is created instantly with no process or transformation

In the Iroquois creation story, how does the earth come into existence?

• The Great Spirit carves it from the sky

• A turtle carries soil on its back to form land

• A giant bird lays an egg that becomes the earth

• The earth is formed from the body of a fallen warrior

According to the Mayan Popol Vuh, what material were the final, successful humans made from?

• Clay

• Wood

• Corn

• Gold

What is a common reason for early failed versions of humans in creation myths?

• They lack gratitude or connection to the divine

• They are too powerful and threaten the gods

• They are physically weak and cannot survive

• All of the above

In the Zulu creation myth, how does the first man, Unkulunkulu, come into being?

• He emerges from a reed

• He is created from fire and water

• He is shaped by the gods from clay

• He is born from the sun

In Hindu mythology, which god is said to have created the universe by dreaming it into existence?

• Vishnu

• Shiva

• Brahma

• Indra

According to Greek mythology, what force existed before the gods and the world?

• Olympus

• Chaos

• The Underworld

• Oceanus

In ancient Egyptian mythology, how does the god Atum create the world?

• He speaks the world into existence

• He rises from the waters of Nun and spits or sneezes out the first gods

• He battles a serpent to carve the land from chaos

• He shapes the world from clay

In Norse mythology, the world is created from the body of which primordial being?

• Odin

• Ymir

• Loki

• Surtr

Many creation myths explain the importance of human relationships with nature by:

• Showing how humans are responsible for maintaining balance

• Demonstrating punishment for misuse of the earth’s gifts

• Associating humans with sacred plants or animals

• All of the above