Even a cursory analysis of world mythology reveals that there are a number of different cultures who have divinities in strikingly similar roles. One of the reasons why this occurs is that many despite the fact that these cultures may be autonomous of one another, they all live in the same world. The fact that they live in the same world is important because it largely means that they are exposed to the same natural phenomena, as well as to a number of simple human phenomena, and they are all attempting to explain these things. Therefore, the parallel in divinities is attributed to a similarity in external stimuli and sources that myths, and religion are used to rationalize or to make more understandable.
An excellent example of this fact is found within creation myth motifs. For instance, there are a number of different cultures who have myths involving a large flood early on in the world's history, or in some cases, one that actually begat the earth. In Christianity, of course, there was a vast void of nothingness that is described in terms similar to rolling seas; God is responsible for creating the world from this nothingness and for wiping clean its face with another flood by Noah. Although the historical accuracy of the great flood may or may not be provable, many different cultures have creation myths involving such a flood in which there deities played a role similar to that of the Christian god.
There is a striking amount of similarity between this creation myth
In the article “Redefining Myth and Religion: Introduction to a Conversation,” Dr. Loyal D. Rue discusses how science, religion, and myth are related and how they coexist. Some people may argue that science and religion should not coincide and that they are opposites. However, Rue argues, “…In an ideal world, the vocabulary of science would inform the myth that binds together the culture.” In this statement, Rue claims that science can be used to help explain the supernatural phenomena that religion and myths describe. Science is not anti-religion; it helps us to explain religion in ways that humans can understand.
on our history and mythology helped shed light to it’s culture, religion, and government of ancient Greece. The Mediterranean has served as a vessel for the early civilizations., Greek mythology has influenced the life style and religion of the Greeks, especially because Greek mythology served as the primary basis of Greek belief, it became the nearest thing the Greeks had to a holy bible.1 These mythologies served as the center of Greek life and these mythologies served as their basis for their life and in turn the mythologies shaped the foundation of the Greek life style, culture, religion that we know today.
So many cultures have divinities in similar roles because events have identified different experiences with similar results. As humans we thrive on the need to believe, so rely heavily on hope and faith. Divinities enforce a sense of beauty and positivity that allows one to go beyond good versus evil. There is an overlap between roles because they are often identified by powers and forces granted to mortal individuals. For example, most supernatural powers are associated with storms and thunder being extended to other spirit beings to wash away negativity and make an example of their enemies.
“Mythos”- a Greek word meaning “tale” and the origin of the word mythology; according to the dictionary mythology means, a traditional story aiming to explain the meaning of things concerning deities and demigods.
In old times, humankind has looked to utilize stories to clarify the world in which it lives. Similarly, as old man utilized stories of divine beings and creatures to clarify the world; superior person utilizes stories of exceptional legends and colossal scoundrels to do likewise (Stuller). Comic books are modern mythology, in that they are superior man 's strategy for clarifying their general surroundings through the fantastical. The characters frequently handle such major, philosophical, (Ahrens, Jörn, and Meeting) social and story ideas as the nature of sound and malevolence, man 's inward battle, the wannabe, the women 's activist, and the rescuer.
In a world whereby diverse cultures and religions collide amongst the disparate and polarized people of our planet, there are few pervading threads that adhere the seams of human life and experience as vividly and profoundly as mythology. Emerging from the first primordial peoples of the earth, from the Occident to the Orient, mythology appears to be an almost innate and inbuilt feature of the human psyche; as religion fuels the contention of superhuman gods who perhaps once sowed the seeds of life, mythology yields the direction and
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece. Modern scholars refer to, and study, the myths, in an attempt to throw light on the religious and political institutions of Ancient Greece, its civilization, and to gain understanding of the nature of myth-making itself.
Myth still remains one of the major links that merges the different cultures and religions from various ethnicities. “The Creation of the Titans and the Gods”, as well as “The Creation, Death, and Rebirth of the Universe”, are among the many creation myths that highlight these combinations. Throughout history, myths have created various similarities and differences between the cultures and religions of the world.
The very first thing I am able to think of with this is the Bible. It encompasses everything that has
Ancient civilizations across the globe have created stories, myths, and legends in an attempt to explain the beautiful phenomenon that is the existence of Earth and humanity. While some populations owe their lives to the work of one supernatural being, others credit the work of multiple deities. The Maori and the Hopi peoples generally share similar concepts of how humans were created and how the Earth came to be the home to civilization as it is today. Although they share a polytheistic belief in the creation of mankind, their stories hold extreme differences as well. Religious origin stories across the globe seem to all share one belief: that at one point, there was some form of nothingness. The relative similarities that are found across
Throughout history, and all over the world, mythology has been developed as a way of explaining the unknown and coping with one’s existence. Why does the sun shine? Well, seemingly, to generations past, something is controlling the universe, so there must be a god in charge of the sun and many other natural phenomenon. During the creation of Native American myths, “there was much in the way of free-range food, but hunting wasn't as easy as getting up in the morning, taking a stroll and shooting a few passing bison with your bow” (Godchecker). Times were tough, “even Plains societies who lived off the prolific buffalo fell under the threat of starvation at times” (Godchecker). Finally, “when herds were found, the people were grateful and
Since the dawn of time, people have necessitated explanations for various natural phenomena, such as rain, earthquakes, and death as well as human characteristics of love, wisdom, and anger. Societies, thus, began to formulate unique beliefs of deities with great power that explained any unknown territories. They worshiped these divine beings trusting in their abilities and fearing their fury. However, no two cultures ever had the same beliefs; each system of belief - each mythology - was designed to reflect the individual societies, who practiced it.
Zeus hurls his thunderbolt and the world trembles. Odin invites fallen warriors in the halls of Valhalla for a drink. Jesus Christ spreads the words of his father and gathers disciples. Buddha sits and meditates the meaning of the universe. Across the world there have always been mythological stories. From the first civilization to modern times, mythologies help explain the vents of the world and attempt to provide answers for unanswerable questions. Though every mythology appears different, if one looks close enough, commonalities appear. Joseph Campbell spent his life studying mythologies and religions along with compiling the commonalities amongst them. This study on the works of Joseph Campbell focuses on the following areas:
Not all mythology comes from ancient cultures. People all around the world continue to create new myths and rework existing ones. Modern technology such as movies, publishing, telecommunications, and the internet allow folktales, rumors, and myths to travel faster around the world. A feature of some modern legends is that they originated as artistic creations. Modern legends offer images of the best and worspect aspects of mankind. Modern myths suggest that good behavior can be rewarded while greedy and foolish behavior will be punished. While modern mythology is different from ancient mythology they are similar in that monstrous and scary partly human creatures still fascinate people today. Vampires and Werewolves are examples of modern mythologies most fascinating monsters. Modern mythology spawns from life’s wonder, excitement, mystery, and fear.
When people think of mythology they usually get an idea of gods’ monsters and magic. However people don’t realize how mythology is so connected to the existence of humanity and how we will grow and fall as a species. It’s not the easiest concept for us as a species to wrap our heads around but these stories in mythology almost tells us how our future might end up. David Leeming has a definition for mythology that states, humans are always on a quest for fulfillment in the face of entropy. Entropy is the idea that we are always moving toward chaos and disorder. Based on what I’ve seen and read in mythology it almost seems like these stories and ideas but me more relevant than we actually believe.