In the beginning, the Universe was created. This made a lot people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move. -Douglas Adams

what's this? the comments are civil and no one is attacking each other based on viewpoints over the creation of the universe??

They put up all the warnings, disclaimers, and "trigger alerts" they could, in the most eloquent, concise, delicate, and respectful way in which anyone possibly could. Which should not surprise anyone, cause nothing they do at CrashCourse falls short of standards of pure excellence. Of course, some people still think that's not enough, and are still getting their feelings hurt.

Can you make a crash course art history? That would be so great!

I think it's interesting that the myths presented seem to be set up as chaos into order but the big bang is actually order into chaos via entropy.

In the beginning the universe was created. This made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move.

4:27 Everybody can relate to Death's family. Who hasn't had that visit from the annoying "helpful" neighbor...

Personally I really like it when the Big Bang is described like that. A common complaint against Naturalism is that it leaves the world dead, cold and boring. But in fact the story of the Big Bang is beautiful and awe inspiring. It can be incredibly poetic and really show you how vast the universe is and how tiny you are compared to it, but also the splendor and beauty that can be found in it. And how much more beautiful this is precisely because none of it was designed or intended by any entity. It makes you really realize what it means that we are made of stardust and that we are the universe gazing at itself.

I'm glad you're also including modern, scientific myths as well. What are myths but us trying to understand the universe, and what is science but the process of us trying to understand it more correctly? Anyways, I know you're limited on time for each episode, so I want to share a summary of one of my own favorite creation stories, that used by the Tengriists (the original religion of the Huns, Mongols, Hungarians, Turks and other people from the Asian Steppes). In the beginning, there was only Tengri and the Great Ocean of Time. Tengri would fly over this Ocean of Time alone, and lonely. This loneliness eventually brought Tengri to create a companion, Kishi, who was not as pure as Tengri. Kishi would grow proud, and eventually flew higher than his creator, and this Pride caused Kishi to fall. Tengri attempted to save him, but it was to late. Er Kishi fell into the Ocean of Time, and Tengri lifted land out of the Ocean to search for Kishi, creating the material world and the God Er-Sub. And from this new land, grew the Tree of Life, which sprouted all Humans, Animals, Plants, and lesser gods.

As an agnostic and a mythology geek, I am so glad you took a little time to insert the Big Bang in ex-nihilo creation narratives. This episode wouldn't have been complete without pointing out that connection.

the problem with ex nihilo creation myths Is that there is usually a God there in the void, meaning that the void wasn't devoid to begin with.

It's unclear where God is, there is a void but there is water... makes me think of being in the womb. Are there theories that go into that idea?

Its interesting because The Lord of The Rings creation mythos follows this formula too.

I'm not saying it was aliens, but it was aliens.

Given my own experiences with the layering of mythologies and the relations of so many divine portfolios back to Thoth... I am honestly loving that he gets to be the side kick as we travel through this. Seriously. Take him the distance.

Does anyone else pause the intros to read the facts?

Eyy I'm a mythology nerd and Its great to see a series on this!

I really really enjoy this video. I really agree with the way you deal with these topics. It's very respectful and interesting. I hope the next videos have this level of quality.

Can you add timelines? Its interesting to know which myths came first and which followed. Love this episode!

This is fascinating. I really like the move to read the Big Bang as an ex nihilo myth. I think that it's important to recognize our own mythologies rather than fall into the trap of thinking we're so far removed from such a basic human practice because of scientific progress. Good work here.

I CAME AS SOON AS I HEARD

this is so cool i love mythology

Can the Egyptian God Thoth be the mascot for the show? Please? Or at least on merchandise.

I love how KZfaq's comment section is everyday proof of why we all have trouble living together as a species of so called intelligence. Love the video as well❤

Looking forward to how this series goes. It's interesting to hear about creation stories from other cultures. One thing I would like to point out, however, is a structural difference between the Genesis and Egyptian creation stories you glossed over with the remark, "Can we ever really call it nothingness with all this water around?" In the excerpt from the Egyptian myth, we see the water possibly existing prior to, or at least having a continuation with, the "Eternal Spirit" that rises as the Sun. Here, along with many of the other myths you cite, there doesn't seem to be a true "ex nihilo" beginning as (in this case) the waters are also a primeval factor in creation. Your question is quite valid here. But in the verses you pulled from Genesis, the structure is more clearly delineated as an "ex nihilo" creation event. "In the Beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth." There is a start to things in which God creates stuff, including the Earth. THEN we get "And the Earth was waste and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." The existence of these waters is hinged upon the first verse, where the Earth is created. Here, your question is not applicable as the "ex nihilo" event has already happened by the time we get to the waters. I may have to watch the video again, but this seems to me to be the only true "ex nihilo" myth you recounted, with the Creator existing before/outside/apart from anything else. The other myths I cannot speak to, being mostly unfamiliar with them, but it really was interesting to hear. A big hope I have for this series is in helping me fine-tune the mythology of a story-world I've been working on for a while now. Thank you!

oh wow I'm early. made it before the atheist vs Christian battle royale woo! 🙌

I'm loving his relationship with the graphics. So fun!

This series is already great! Love the lack of censorship and the free talk and analysis!

"In the Age of Ancients the world was unformed, shrouded by fog. A land of gray crags, Archtrees and Everlasting Dragons. But then there was Fire and with fire came disparity. Heat and cold, life and death, and of course, light and dark." Because Dark Souls it's not just a badass game, but it also has some amacing mythos.

I love how you guys have turned Toth into nearly a whacky sidekick.

Could God microwave a burrito so hot that he, himself, could not eat it?

I love that Thoth is your sidekick for this series.

In the popul vul story, wouldn't the parrot technically be able to praise the lord?

This is turning out great but one thing I hope to see mentioned in a future video is a Pueblo native creation myth: the first humans lived deep beneath the earth and bore no resemblance to humans today. They were brought up to the surface by star beings.

It saddens me that many in the comment section kind of missed the point of the series, as the incessant arguing over whether the Genesis account is true or the big bang theory counts as a myth both indicate. If the first episode didn't help with that, though, what else can we do? People understand the world in narrative. Sure, we got the big bang theory from a bunch of data, but it doesn't mean anything to most people until we can talk about its story, more or less as presented here. In the same way, atheists should be able to recognize the value of a creation myth even if they believe the claims it makes are categorically false. Likewise, Christians should be willing to compare their myths to others, and ponder the similarities and differences between them. How can they be understood otherwise? Myths are about how people see the world, what we find important, and the meaning we find in it. Truth helps with that. Totally not the point, though. I hope by the end of this series, more people manage to engage beyond mere fact-checking. There's enough of that to do these days. Actually, that makes me wonder... are the people who become frustrated, angry, offended, or vindicated by comparison to the myths they find important/"not myths" simply less able to distance themselves from them? Going even further, are the ones who see the least value in discussing myth perhaps the ones for whom they have the most authority?

I'm late and only two episodes into this series, but I love it so far! Mike is the perfect host for Mythology as well. I love the script, I love the animations, I love the way it's all presented and the way it all works together. Well done everyone who helped make this show possible! I'm really enjoying it.

Being Hindu AND Wiccan, and having studied religions and myths of the world for years, I find this series fascinating, familiar and entertaining.

Thank you, thank you THANK YOU for including the Big Bang as they did in my college Mythology class years ago. (We used "The world of myth" by D.Leeming and of course Campbell's fundamental "The power of myth"- I LOVE JOSEPH CAMPBELL!!!) I was so worried that as men of science you would refuse to consider the Big Bang as a "creation story". I'm so relieved to see you did. Studying Mythology and the theories of how myths develop over time changed my life. I had never dared to consider Judeo-Christian stories or the Big Bang as "stories of explanation based on the technological information available to humans at that time". It seemed like blasphemy to question the truths that my teachers and parents had taught me. Changing how I viewed these stories (ideas) forced me to begin to question EVERYTHING and eventually think for myself. It was the first step I took towards studying History/Archeology (mostly for fun though I have taught CLIL History here in Italy) which became one of the passions of my life. I'm so glad to see that you are doing this series. BRAVO Crash Course!!!!!

What I absolutely adore about Mike, Hank and John, but also scientists in general, is the basic contract of openness to the idea of being wrong. They are willing to consider the other points of view, to see things through various examples because it doesn't hurt to think about it. This basic humility, this capacity to face facts as they are and accept being wrong is why they are of the most admirable people on Earth.

Mike's enthusiasm for mythology makes me feel so much better about myself. I adore studying mythology and it's nice finding others who enjoy it as well.

I'm a Christian and I really appreciate this series. Thanks for continuing to educate people and cause us to think! :D

'take a second to get comfortable with that' *me, raised pagan, used to all my gods being considered characters* kay so moving on

I actually appreciate your flippant tone - looking at these myths with a light-heart is how one should look at them. Too many people in the past (and indeed, in the present) have died over myths because they were taken them far too seriously.

I love this dude's on camera persona. Very natural, enthusiastic and fun to watch.

I am so incredibly happy that this series exists!

I'm really enjoying this series! Keep it up!

It has always been fascinating to me how much these ex nihilo creation stories parallel the account we get from science. I won't at this time try to draw any significance from that (I don't know that it signifies anything at all) but it is fascinating.

"And that's...how we got home renovation." LOL

6:15 Hank and the Scientists would make an awesome band name

"A SMALL, EASY topic. The creation of the universe"

I love the fact that the Guinea creation myth is basically a godly housewarming party.

This is more civil than I expected. Looks like good comment sections can exist on the Internet

i am curious to why so many creation myths involve a searpont or a dragon.

I think this is amazing! I am strong in my faith but I'd love to learn about everyone else's and also myths. Why are people offended? He gave a trigger warning

I love how you don't have bias towards a specific idea of creation. You're keeping a neutral and informative view on it. I think that's my favorite part so far. Besides Thoth.

I'm so happy that they mentioned Guatemala and especially the popohl vuh. As a fellow Guatemalan it makes me so super happy and honored because the history classes given in the USA barely mentioned Guatemala if at all.

It's weird how religious people have no issue with the fact that God spontaneously showed up out of nothing to create the Universe but find it so absurd that the Big Bang happened out of nothing. To paraphrase Morty, it just seems like the Big Bang with extra steps. Also, as an atheist I'm pretty happy with the idea that the Judaeo-Christian God is a character.

man, that big bang bit is triggering a lot of people

Mike: You are awesome here, just as on your own channel. I'm so glad they hired you for this. I love the way you're approaching the topic, allowing everyone to learn about mythology without alienation based on their belief system, or even scientific education level. Excellent job so far.

I like the way he talks, its soothing and informative. Its great to see a systematic approach to world religions.

Hindus believe that the first sound ever to exist in the universe was "om: hence its spiritual significance

Thank you so so so much for including the Mayan myth about creation

"Their words and thoughts were so clear that whatever they said; came to be." This really speaks to me.

This freaking series is pretty on point. Personally, as an agnostic, I could find appreciation in all of these stories. There's a certain bit of familiarity with each and every creation myth trying to describe how the world came to be. I really like the Kaluli version since Death rarely is featured in the beginning.

Hey Thought Bubble, saguaro cactus are indigenous to the Sonoran desert in NW Mexico and SW U.S., nowhere near Guatemala

The pokemon creation myth could be it's own episode. Like if you agree

I really like the Mayan creation story. It reminds me of all the times I used to sit with one of my buddies as a kid and we'd dream up worlds for fantasy and science fiction stories we never got 'round to writing down. Makes you look at storytelling in general a different way: "two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; whose misadventured piteous overthrows do with their death bury their parents' strife."

Congratulations for including the Big Bang in there. Hard to overstate how intellectually honest I think this is.

I bet Thoth really enjoys this series of education and recording in a modern sense

Gawd is quite a character lol.

This guy is the best addition they made to the channel. Whatever they're paying you it's not enough my guy.

I love how he’s just like “this is mythological studies, put down ya pitch forks!” It’s just amazing! Also the “Tot, don’t eat him, this is not Australia.”

The mesoamerican one seemed interesting, like feathered serpents = dinos, and the four creations were extinction events, maybe mesoamerican peoples have a long memory haha

Who else is just now watching this because they are learning abt it on online school? jus me? okay then....

My god, the pace of wich he speaks is just on point, loving this so far!

I absolutely love you all. Thank u for teaching me what I can enlighten others about. Y’all dope

Hi. Just wanted to bring something up, Person who Reads Comments at Crash Course (if there is one) Love the show, but being an Indian epics aficionado, I HAVE to mention this. In the title slide depicting Ramayana, it says that the Ramayana is the largest ancient epic in world literature. But this is simply not true. Anybody with just a little more than vague knowledge about Indian epics will know this. That honour goes to the Mahabharata, which consists of about a hundred-thousand couplets, or maybe more, depending on the version. The Ramayana is only about one-fourth the size of it. Please look into this or else my anal retentiveness will have been in vain. kthnxbye P.S. Did I mention that I love the show?

Loved this! SO balanced and well thought out.

The Hawaiian creation story, Kumulipo (and indeed, the shared creation mythology of all of Polynesia, but the Hawaiian version is the one I know best), follows this common theme of Ex Nihilo creation. The Kumulipo describes a chaotic state and a primordial slime from which was birthed the earth and the primordial darkness/night, Pō. This darkness gave birth to a male entity (Kumulipo) and a female entity (Pō‘ele), from which came all the different forms of life, starting with the simplest: the coral polyp, then grubs and worms, starfish, sea cucumbers, on upwards through all the plants and animals and gods and eventually people, the entire genealogy of life on Earth. I find it fascinating how many cultures share similar themes in their creation myths, and by how closely this is mirrored by our best scientific description of events.

I freaking LOVE the Popul Vuh...UGH, the planetarium at the Boston Museum of science showed a beautiful animation of it when they had their Maya exhibit. SO beautiful

Uhm, ask Qui-Gon Jinn if the ability to speak is always a good thing...

Lord Frieza and God Goku created the universe through Shenron, wtf wrong with u guys.

"Like service packs... but for existence." hahaha!!! Thoroughly enjoyed this.Only episode 2 but loving the presentation style so much!

The 'Word' just noticed so significant all over mythology and realized that being able to speak and write words gives you power over space[shared ideas allowing fundamental changes over enviroment] and time[enduring writing and oral traditions] making the 'WORD' kind of a big deal. Just wanted to share an epiphany.

please do a crash course on history of salt!

Chaos isn’t before creation “Chaos is a ladder” -Littlefinger

I learned mythology and symbology from an English guy named Leon Patsalides. I cannot find him anymore, he's lost in the internet and the internet was young at that time, but mythology opens up my mind to the idea that we humans are truly is one. We discussed on how stories across continents can be exactly similar with each other. This opens my mind to the fact that the conflict we know in this world are really unnecessary because once you know the root cause of all idealism it's very often the same. Problem with people these days (among religion-hater, extreme right wing, or super conservative religion) is that very often they don't learn as deep as they thought they could and be extremely serious and demanding of their own idealism. Watching this video is kinda nostalgic to me

Please do Arabic subtitles so my friends can watch it too.....btw loooove the channel and everything you guys produce THANK YOU

I find it interesting about the creation story in Egypt. I think it would cool if you would add in the dates to these things. Moses wrote the book of Genesis after the Israelites left Egypt. Either they influenced the Egyptians or the Egyptians influenced the book of Genesis. Still pretty cool to hear these from this secular perspective.

I'm loving Crash Course Mythology!

I'm so glad he brought up the Big Bang theory. It's the western scientific version of the Genesis creation story and nobody seems to notice.

got to admit this was more helpful and better presented about this topic than most similar KZfaq videos. good job crash course

so death has a family? I just did not see that one comming. :-)

was the serpent god Quetzalcoatl?

I'm so happy that Toth is the mascot of this crash course! Toth is my fav egyptian god and i also have a wall tattoo of him across from my book shelf!

Message to Host: good work! Myth is a hard thing to talk about on the internet. People are crazy, and mean. You have a good thing going.

surprised that you didn't mention pangu. it's similar to the big bang which is interesting.

That awkward moment they have to have a disclaimer that the "god" they're talking about is the character in mythology not in "real life" to avoid getting mobbed in the comment section by angry butthurt religious people lol.

I think the idea of absolute nothing is a very calming concept

I create religions for a fantasy world. One if the creation stories of a religion is that there was infinite chaos, then infinite amount of time later, it was organized, and the single god was visible to reality, so he created life to see him. He realized that he need a smarter species to be able to worship him, so he took a thin layer of the world, and combined it into a ball, then shaped it into a human, which he duplicated into a clan which spread humanity