How the world began
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How the World Began: A Synthesis of Creation Narratives and Scientific Theories
Creation Myths from Different Cultures
Absarkoe (Crow) Creation Story
The Absarkoe or Crow people have a rich creation story that begins with Old Man Coyote and a world covered in water. Coyote, seeking companionship, finds two ducks and sends them to explore beneath the water. After several dives, one duck brings up mud, which Coyote blows on to create the earth. He then plants a root, leading to the growth of plants and trees. Coyote shapes the landscape and creates animals and humans, who speak different languages, leading to the emergence of dance and war due to misunderstandings1.
Greek Philosophical Views
Greek philosophical schools, except for the Platonists, believed in the eternity of the world and the cyclical nature of time. They posited that matter was eternal, rejecting the idea that something could be created from nothing. This view changed with the advent of Christianity, which introduced the concept of creation ex nihilo (creation from nothing), emphasizing God's absolute power and freedom9.
William Blake and Emanuel Swedenborg
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the debate between religious creation myths and scientific theories intensified. Emanuel Swedenborg's theological writings influenced William Blake, who explored the creation of the world and humanity in his works. Blake's "The [First] Book of Urizen" reflects Swedenborg's unorthodox views, highlighting the ongoing tension between religious and scientific explanations of the world's origin10.
Scientific Perspectives on the Beginning of the World
Geological and Biological Insights
The desire to understand the world's beginning extends to geology and biology, which study long-term changes in the earth's surface and the evolution of plants and animals. These sciences push the question of origins from humanity to the earth and its creatures, and further to the universe through astronomy2.
The Age of the Universe
The question of when the universe began is a fundamental one. Theories suggest that the universe has undergone significant changes, observable as far as telescopes can reach. This leads to the broader question of the universe's origin and the beginning of time itself2.
Early Earth and the Origin of Life
The early Earth had an atmosphere similar to Venus, but it transformed into a habitable world within 100-200 million years. This transformation may have been triggered by a peculiar type of rock that is now extinct. The Earth's atmosphere evolved from hydrogen and helium to a volcanic mix of gases, setting the stage for the emergence of life around 3.8 billion years ago5 7.
Hypersphere World-Universe Model
The Hypersphere World-Universe Model (WUM) presents a paradigm shift in cosmology, describing the evolution of the universe from its beginning to the formation of the solar system. It includes concepts such as the creation of matter, dark matter, and the conditions of the early Earth before life began8.
Philosophical and Theological Arguments
Kant's Proof of the World's Beginning
Immanuel Kant argued that the world must have a beginning in time. He reasoned that if the world had no beginning, an infinite series of events would have already occurred, which is impossible because an infinite series cannot be completed. Therefore, a beginning is necessary for the world's existence4.
Chronological Debates
The creation of the world and the birth of chronology have been subjects of debate. Early Christian apologists emphasized creation from nothing to assert God's power. This led to a linear view of time and history, contrasting with the cyclical view of the Greeks. The association of creation with Christian dogma influenced scientific theories, such as the rejection of the second law of thermodynamics and the expanding universe theory, due to their implications of a low-entropy initial state akin to creation9.
Conclusion
The question of how the world began is addressed through a tapestry of cultural myths, scientific theories, and philosophical arguments. From the Crow people's creation story to Kant's philosophical proof, and from geological insights to the Hypersphere World-Universe Model, each perspective offers a unique lens through which to view the origin of our world. These diverse narratives and theories reflect humanity's enduring quest to understand its beginnings.
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