The creationists refer to the theory that the universe and all life forms came into existence by the direction creative acts of a Creator external to and independent of the natural universe � the world had one great catastrophic flood which accounted for mass death, destruction, and extinction (1, Hokaj).
In all the different creationism around the world like Christianity, Catholic, Protestant, Apiscopalian, Hindu, Buddist, Islam, Jewish, Vodoo, Morman, Santaria, Confusionism, Rastifari and Native American beliefs. Each of the creationism is different from one to the other culture. The variety of cultural diversity is wide and spreads across from region to region all around the world. The cultural norms concerns of people unlike ourselves deal with on a daily basis and the extensive rage of diversity of beliefs in traditions is amazing. The creationism view is as significant as historical views in society. By understanding the meaning of the Navajo culture besides the valuable principles that are passed down through generations in these stories. Next, similarities in both the Biblical and traditional Navajo's practice of religion along with the common vocabulary in each practice. Finally, how they both were crushed by the world of historical views. The historical view has a written form of records and also has �scientists deal with the �what� and �how� of origins, where as the religious creationist deal with �who� and �why� (2, Hokaj).
Understanding the Navajo culture of creationism is a type of verbal transmission passed through generations. �These stories are part of who we are and they teach us about whom we want to become through these stories�, said Mr. X, a local resident. Creationism in the Navajo culture consists of the four worlds, which are the creation story of how the Navajo people came to live in this present world today. These stories justify why things are in nature without this system- the Navajo people would be lost. �Partnerships between these American Indian communities and the schools can occur, but they must be founded on mutual respect for the expertise that each party brings to the educational endeavor� (p. 218, Martinez). For example in the Pine Hill community runs the Pine Hill Schools (K-12) and they choose that the creation stories and the Navajo language be taught in the curriculum throughout the school. A quote from Techumseh of the Shawnees said, ��will we let ourselves be destroyed in our turn without a struggle, give up our homes, our country bequeathed to us by the Great Sprit, the graves of our dead and everything that is dear and sacred to us? I know you will cry with me, �Never! Never!� (p. 1, Brown) As a result the schools are now teaching the language and stories to students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Next, the similarities between the Biblical and Navajo in practices of religion due to the Christian belief in one god that has saved us and that everyone else is wrong and evil. On the Navajo Nation reservation some native people go to a type of church organization- do not like traditional Navajo. �The Navajo traditional people worship the devil� stated Mrs. Yazzie. These comments are common and ignored by people of the traditional Navajo belief. The similarities are both have one god they worship and in the traditional belief they are the same god. Also both contain �� a certain place to worship such as the traditional people call the fire place- alter which is a place of great presents of the creator� stated Mr. X. The Biblical and Navajo practices are from two different religious realms but have an enormous sum of similarities to each other. The Biblical and traditional Navajo beliefs both were crushed by the world of historical views.
These historical views can be more creditable because there are more documented events than creationism. The person and or �scientists deal with the �what� and �how� �� (p.2, Hokaj) of events and certain facts in which is important for the documentation. Our civilization is surrounded with lots of document found throughout history are key for our civilization because documentation is the proof that something did take place in history. For example Egyptian history is recorded by using symbols carved in stone, which can be dated to a time because of the paint that is used on the stone. The Native American cultures such as Navajo who believe in a verbal form of communication rather than a documented set of stories on creationism in their culture. �Just because you can not see it, does not make it not real these stories can teach you right from wrong� stated Mr. X. Furthermore the Biblical view was written down in the bible but the times and dates in the bible and even the places are not certain. For example Moses, did he build the great ship that saved thousands or even millions of animals? Scientist have not found the evidence that such a ship existed. Therefore both the Biblical and traditional Navajo views have been crushed by the historical point of view but to this day thousands or even million believe in the bible and a few thousands in the traditional Navajo belief still believe in the Creator. This historical view did not dampen the belief that is instilled in these people. The variety of cultural diversity is wide and spreads across from region to region all around the world. How can a person determine that their creationism is righteous and others are false? When they themselves do not have all the data to prove that there world of creationism out does everyone else. In addition the historical views and creationism cannot interlace but our documentation still continues. And we still pray to one god all round the world whether it is in Christianity, Catholic, Protestant, Apiscopalian, Hindu, Buddist, Islam, Jewish, Vodoo, Morman, Santaria, Rastifari and Native American beliefs.
This page is copyright©2005, Renaye Apachito
Last version: April 27, 2005