Dinka Myth Essay, Research Paper

Dinka Myth*

The Dinkas believed that at one time both man and Divinity were in close contact, at this time death was nonexistent. There was a rope connecting the sky (where the Divinity lived) and the Earth (home of man) that was at the reach of a man’s outstretched arm. Every day the Divinity would give the first man and woman one millet to satisfy their needs, but they were forbidden to grow more. One day the woman in her greed decided to plant more than allowed, so she took a long-handled hoe and struck the Divinity. The Divinity, now offended, withdrew from his close proximity to Earth and sent a small blue bird called the Atoc to sever the rope. Since then the country seemed cursed, men have to labor for the food they need and are often hungry, and since they can no longer reach the Divinity they now suffer sickness and death.

This myth falls under the third family of religion, the Semitic. In this family there is only one God who created who created the world as a reality distinct of himself. This Divinity then provides some form of Law by which he judges man on their obedience to these laws.