The Hopi are one of many Native America tribes living in the southwestern United States. In 2003, Hopi scholar John Loftin reported their numbers at 12,500. They “live primarily in small villages in northeastern Arizona. Most of these villages are perched above a sea of sand on three jutting ridges of Black Mesa, called First, Second, and Third Mesas” (xix).[1] According to the Hopi creation myth, we are currently living in the world’s fourth incarnation, as previous versions were destroyed by the Creator when its denizens misbehaved.

As you read this text, you may wish to compare this story with other texts that pit humans against their divine creators, such as The Symposium. Consider the factors that determine whether the tension between a creator and their creations is productive or destructive.

[1] Loftin, John D. Religion and Hopi Life. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2003. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 14 Jan. 2017.