Monograph 22:

Global Mythology - An Introduction

What is mythology and why do I use the term "global mythology"? These are complex questions which need complex answers.

A myth is often defined as an accepted belief that is unsubstantiated by fact. It may also be thought of as being any body of stories that explain the way things are.  

Some people consider any belief system that is not their own to be myth. Myth is also sometimes characterized as stories belonging to cultures that no longer exist. For many, mythology may just be the stories of the ancient Greeks and Romans. None of these definitions, however, is very satisfactory.

In truth, mythology is much more than that. Mythologies are our common heritage. They are threads connecting us to our cultural ancestors. By reawakening an interest in this collective storehouse, we can illuminate commonalities, discover differences and explore new perspectives. The mythological approach privileges no creed. It honors the wisdom inherent in collective creations.

The gods and goddesses of mythological realms ask for neither belief nor obedience. Rather they are characters in fundamental, archetypal, human dramas that mirror our foibles and ignite the imagination, as do great art, music and literature. 

An open minded approach allows for a non-threatening view of world religions through all time.

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quote:

"...a mythology is a control system, on the one hand framing its community to accord with an intuited order of nature and, on the other hand, by means of its symbolic pedagogic rites, conducting individuals through the ineluctable psycho-physiological stages of transformation of a human lifetime - birth, childhood and adolescence, age, old age, and the release of death - in unbroken accord simultaneously with the requirements of this world and the rapture of participation in a manner of being beyond time."

                                                                           - Joseph Campbell

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Familiarity with and appreciation for the beauty and truth of mythological stories of varying cultures provides the foundation for understanding which is beneficial to us all.

Myths, as the conveyors of information, are imaginative vehicles for making the inexplicable clear. Even though they deal with things that are not literally true, they are nevertheless truths in a more spiritual, philosophical, or social sense.

Myths can fall anywhere on a continuum ranging from nearly pure historical account to pure imagination. The content and form of a myth can change to suit the needs of the teller, the audience, and the purpose for which it is being told. A myth can thus take on a life of its own. 

The nature of the Egyptian god Osiris, for example, changed tremendously over centuries; once considered only a god of vegetation, he came to be the god of the underworld, the god of the moon, a divine pharaoh, and much, much more.

Some myths are based on known historical figures and events. These are often called legends or sagas to distinguish them from explanatory stories. They are often hero myths, tales of adventure filled with fantastic beings and superhuman feats.

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quote:

"Truth is one, the sages speak of it by many names,"

- Joseph Campbell

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The words "myth" and "falsehood" are most certainly not synonymous. What is truth to one is fancy to another. However, it is not up to any of us to decide that one community's mythology is any more or less valid than another's. Myth is a positive force that unites many cultures rather than divides them. Throughout the world myths provide people with explanations, histories, role models, entertainment, and so many other things that enable them to direct their own actions and understand their own surroundings more clearly.

Every culture has a set of deities who watch over them, teasing them, punishing them, but above all else, teaching them.

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quote:

"Myths are the 'masks of God', through which men everywhere have sought to relate themselves to the wonders of existence."

- Joseph Campbell

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Over the next few weeks we shall be taking a much closer look at Greek and Roman Mythology, Celtic Mythology, Egyptian Mythology, Norse & German Mythology and Native American Mythology.