Mythology

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Mythology is the study of the myths that inform a religion or culture about its laws,  its history, its morals, its social constructions, and really everything else that define the culture or religion's WorldView.  The term "mythology" is also used to define the set of myths that inform any particular religion.
 
Mythology is the study of the myths that inform a religion or culture about its laws,  its history, its morals, its social constructions, and really everything else that define the culture or religion's WorldView.  The term "mythology" is also used to define the set of myths that inform any particular religion.
  
All religions have myths and associated mythologies; however, some members of contemporary religions (in particular, Christianity and Islam) tend to get angry, and expect their religions not to be held to the same standards as other religions when studied in a non-theological setting.
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All religions have myths and associated mythologies; however, some members of contemporary religions (in particular, Christianity and Islam) expect their religions not to be held to the same standards as other religions when studied in a non-theological setting, expressing the notion that their holy stories should not be termed "myths".
  
 
Despite the popular idea of myths as being something "false", neither truth nor lack of truth defines a myth. What makes a myth is how it impacts upon the culture and the culture's passing on of its standards.
 
Despite the popular idea of myths as being something "false", neither truth nor lack of truth defines a myth. What makes a myth is how it impacts upon the culture and the culture's passing on of its standards.
  
 
==Study of mythology==
 
==Study of mythology==
The study of mythology may provide insight into the development of the human character in any given religion.  For example, scholars and enthusiasts alike can learn how a given society views sexuality, by reading the sexual exploits of the godsIf, as in the Hindu traditions of Krisha, the god of love enjoys the company of men, you can assume that homosexuality was - if not at least normal, then accepted.  If you read that Zeus ran around with many wives, that is a sure sign that the culture in question endorsed polygamy.
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The study of a culture's mythology provides historians, anthropologists, sociologists and other scholars insight into world view of that culture.  For example, Coyote's sexual exploits in Lakota mythology would suggest to scholars that the Lakota were open about sexual encounters and accepted the humor inherent in sexual situationsOn the other hand, that Eve is shamed at her naked body, would indicate that the ancient jewish communities were far more reserved about exposure of the body and about expressing sexual interest openly.
  
Mythology is the best way to understand how humans position themselves in the world.  The Jewish stories of the creation in <i>Bereshit</i> show that Jews feel they are the caretakers of the world, that they follow a God who exercises direct intervention in the lives of those who honor him - therefore they will take care to follow Biblical directivesAlso, the myth of Adam and Eve demonstrates a proper social order for "man and woman".<ref>Please note, in mythology, that is associated with living traditions, the modern religious tradition may not place the same meaning or importance on a myth that the original authors did</ref> Christians, on the other hand, tell of a dying/rising God who is the proper venue for salvationBased on that myth, Christians hold themselves out as being able to convert others to this salvation by word or deed.
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Parallel mythologies can be used to demonstrate who has influenced whom in the development of religion and culture. <ref> Noah, for example, is generally accepted to be a reworking of the Epic of Gilgamesh.</ref>  They can also be used to show distinctions between how individual religions understand similar concepts.  The two formative scrolls of <i> Bereshit</i> have fairly different images of God. As seen in the Adam & Eve story, one scroll (YHWH-Elohim) defines a highly personified god who is "heard" walking through the gardens, who "calls out" to the couple he has "lost" and cannot findHe "guesses" by their modesty, that they have eaten of the fruit.  This god is not perfect and all knowing.  The second scroll, however,  YHWH is far less personified, acts from "on high", more indirectly and does not demonstrate the more "human" emotions of surprise and disappointment.  
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Not all mythology is associated with a religion.  America, for example, has a very particular mythology about its place in the world that is seen through myths of the American Dream and of America as a supporter of human rights, freedoms and democracy.<ref>This line is not to suggest that either myth is "Truth", but that they are part of the fabric of the story of America.</ref>  
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
*[[History]]
 
*[[History]]
 
*[[Religion]]
 
*[[Religion]]
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*[[Dying Rising Gods]]
  
 
== Footnotes ==
 
== Footnotes ==

Revision as of 15:37, 15 July 2008

Mythology is the study of the myths that inform a religion or culture about its laws, its history, its morals, its social constructions, and really everything else that define the culture or religion's WorldView. The term "mythology" is also used to define the set of myths that inform any particular religion.

All religions have myths and associated mythologies; however, some members of contemporary religions (in particular, Christianity and Islam) expect their religions not to be held to the same standards as other religions when studied in a non-theological setting, expressing the notion that their holy stories should not be termed "myths".

Despite the popular idea of myths as being something "false", neither truth nor lack of truth defines a myth. What makes a myth is how it impacts upon the culture and the culture's passing on of its standards.

Study of mythology

The study of a culture's mythology provides historians, anthropologists, sociologists and other scholars insight into world view of that culture. For example, Coyote's sexual exploits in Lakota mythology would suggest to scholars that the Lakota were open about sexual encounters and accepted the humor inherent in sexual situations. On the other hand, that Eve is shamed at her naked body, would indicate that the ancient jewish communities were far more reserved about exposure of the body and about expressing sexual interest openly.

Parallel mythologies can be used to demonstrate who has influenced whom in the development of religion and culture. [1] They can also be used to show distinctions between how individual religions understand similar concepts. The two formative scrolls of Bereshit have fairly different images of God. As seen in the Adam & Eve story, one scroll (YHWH-Elohim) defines a highly personified god who is "heard" walking through the gardens, who "calls out" to the couple he has "lost" and cannot find. He "guesses" by their modesty, that they have eaten of the fruit. This god is not perfect and all knowing. The second scroll, however, YHWH is far less personified, acts from "on high", more indirectly and does not demonstrate the more "human" emotions of surprise and disappointment.

Not all mythology is associated with a religion. America, for example, has a very particular mythology about its place in the world that is seen through myths of the American Dream and of America as a supporter of human rights, freedoms and democracy.[2]

See also

Footnotes

  1. Noah, for example, is generally accepted to be a reworking of the Epic of Gilgamesh.
  2. This line is not to suggest that either myth is "Truth", but that they are part of the fabric of the story of America.
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