Creation and Salvation Myths Deborah deborah@summerlands.com Sat Nov 13 20:49:26 1999 Those are some truly beautiful thoughts. I didn't know the Catholic Church had written that about Nature.*p*It's interesting to note the Creation and Salvation parts of those statements. They are very similar to a Native American/Shamanic Creation Myth known as The Circle of Animal Brothers. In that story, Creation came into being because of the spoken word also. I'll see if I can remember enough of it to at least hit the high points.*p*"In the time before there was time, there was Grandfather Fire. And around him sat The Circle of Animal Brothers. And beyond them, was the darkness. And as they sat in that circle surrounded by the darkness they each in their turn told their own stories. And from their tellings Creation began."*p*It goes on to say that the two legged (man) was part of that circle, but for some reason that nobody knows to this day, he got up from the circle and went out into the darkness. And he didn't come back; and when he left, was when 'time began'. It talks of Grandfather sending our several of the Animal Brothers in search of him, and finally sending his greatest creation, his most precious one, Eagle Brother to find him and bring him back to the Circle. And when Eagle Brother finally found him, he realized man had lost the ability to speak in the language of spirit and was trapped in the land of Death which we call Life. It was then that he decided to stay to help lead his brother, the Two Legged One, back to the Circle. And when his claw touched down upon the earth for the first time, he became Eagle Brother: First Shaman. And it is his job to be the way show-er and to guide mankind back to Grandfather Fire and his rightful and natural place in the world of Life (which we call Spirit).*p*That's the short and paraphrased version with all the middle left out. I really have to find that telling. It's truly beautiful.*br*But the two points that caught my interest in reading them were the Creation and Salvation Myths, and how similar they are between Christianity and Native American Beliefs.*p*"In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God." Gospel of John. Combine that with, "... and darness was upon the face of the deep..." + "And God said..." Genesis.*p*"In the time before there was time Grandfather Fire, and around him sat the Circle of Animal Brothers. And beyond them, the darkness... and by their tellings Creation was made."*p*The both speak of multiple entities/eloi(?), darkness and speaking creation into being. And any person who deals with magick knows the power that words have to create reality... even in our limited, self blinded state.*p*Then you have Jesus who is God's Only Begotten Son, who gave his life to show us/bring us back to God. And Eagle Brother: First Shaman, who gave up Life to come to the land of Death to be the way show-er so that the mankind could return to the Circle of Spirit and the presence of Grandfather Fire (God).*p*I love comparing religions, and looking for that common theme and thread in them all.*p*This is a very cool thing to be doing. Thanks for starting it. I can't wait for the next SSS (That's Spiritual Synchronicity Series for those of you who missed the first one <G>)*p*See you Wednesday night.*br*Love,*br*Deb Abbey Chat: Catholic Teaching on Nature Beirdd 115 Sat Nov 13 19:44:54 1999