Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Although you are correct, the word "myth" has negative connotations.

We would usually use "allegory" or "parable" for a story which is
used to reveal a truth.

/john

    I am beginning to appreciate the term myth.  It no longer has a
    negative connotation for me.  A myth speaks to the inner pychic part of
    our being.  We are created by the myths.  We are recreated by the
    myths.  
    
    patricia

I would be very offended if you started using the term "myth" for some of the
allegorical stories of the Bible.

/john

    John,
    
    Unfortunately, I cannot find  beauty or truth in many of the stories until
    I accept them as mythology and allow them to resonate in the part of my
    soul that is able to know mythically.
    
    For me much of the Bible is empty and meaningless unless I can love
    and appreciate the value of the mythology.  I can find meaning in
    comparing and contrasting biblical mythology with pre biblical
    mythology.  This helps me understand what is uniquely Christian and
    what is Universal Relgion.
    
    This is not a matter of trying to offend anyone but of trying to find
    meaning in a sacred tradition that I refuse to  interpret literally.
    
    
    Patricia
    Allegory is something different.  Jesus' parables are full of allegory.

I confess, the term "myth" didn't always hold a positive connotation for me.

I have less of a problem with it since taking a couple of sociology classes.
In the sociological context, it is a term not used to discredit.  It is
a term used to identify social understandings.

Peace,
Richard

You're correct, /john,  the word myth does have negative (and erroneous) 
connotations.  So, what are we to do?  Avoid the term, or work to expand our 
knowledge a bit.

From what I've learned, a myth, different from a parable or allegory, is a 
story that recounts a tale wherein humans interact with the divine (and vice 
versa).  It is intended to explain why things are the way they are and where 
we fit into creation, not in a scientific sense, but in a theological sense. 
They answer such questions as "why are we here?", what happens when we die?" 
and "Why do we spend so much of the intervening time wearing digital watches?"

(strike that last one, if you don't get it, read Douglas Adams' _HitchHikers
Guide to the Galaxy_, it's a joke .-) 

Myths may not be true in a literal sense, but they shed light on Truths far 
greater.

Peace,

Jim

Dear all,

May I start off with a ferrytail, we all know ferrytails are phantasy.
Remember the ferrytail, written by the brothers Grimm (1786-1859), 
"The woolfe and the seven goats".

Suppose, and that is where my phantasy starts, Wilhelm Grimm 
found a mediaeval picture about a woolfe eating goats, and he created 
a story around it. The original truth of the mediaeval picture is lost.

Now, let phantasy some more, the origin of this picture could be much older,
suppose arround 100 AD. Remember ....., it's all phantasy. 
Now the woolfe could be a symbol of Rome, since Rome was "founded" by,
Remus and Romulus, "raised" by a female woolfe. Now, the next symbol,
the goats could be sheeps, and could be followers of Christ.

So the "real thruth", behind the ferrytail, could be the 
Christian Persecution in that time and the picture a political cartoon.
Remember, I made it up, but it could be true.

Personally I do believe that this kind of "rhetoric thinking", is true for
myths, legends and ferrytails. However it is very difficult to raise the 
truth from those stories. In some cases, it is commonly excepted, that
the myth was not a myth afterall. Think about Troy.
Remember also names f.e. like Jung, Velikovsky and Joseph Cambell, 
who did try to give some more "knowledge" about myths.

Regards Hans Huisman.

P.S. I do not believe in coincidence, so I had to react on this note.
     See also my introduction note 3.103.

    .6
    
    Jim - 
    
    The digital watch question becomes moot as long as you always have your
    towel.  ;-)
    
    
    Nanci

    There is a common "myth" that, in the end, good will triumph over evil.
    This "myth" is supported by the Bible and by popular culture.  We feel
    something is wrong when we watch a movie, for example, where the loose
    ends are not tied up, where there is no resolution or reconciliation,
    or where the ending just doesn't make sense.
    
    We want our myths reinforced.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    Another note of Richard's filled with ambiguity and deniable
    controversy.
    
    Back to the semantics of "myth":  All myths have a human author.
    
    The supernatural authorship of the Bible, the Koran, native American
    oral histories, and other sacred works accorded to them by their
    respective believers merits terminology that transcends "myths".
    
    As John correctly mentioned earlier to call the Bible a collection of
    myths is offensive statement to many Christians because it equates God
    to Johnny Appleseed.
    
    Good, of course, will triumph over evil as the Bible tells us:
    
    For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the
    victory that has overcome the world - our faith.  Who is he that
    overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
    1 Jn 5:4-5
    
    
                                                                    

re Note 570.10 by SDSVAX::SWEENEY:

>     As John correctly mentioned earlier to call the Bible a collection of
>     myths is offensive statement to many Christians because it equates God
>     to Johnny Appleseed.
  
        You do realize that "Johnny Appleseed" -- John Chapman -- was
        a very real historical figure who planted almost as many
        churches as he did apple trees?

        Bob

Looks like Pat was too subtle for you.

In the case of Johnny Appleseed, the mythical stories, mostly fiction,
far surpass the truth of John Chapman.

	A variety of distinctive characteristics combined to
	create the "Johnny Appleseed" myth of the primitive
	natural man; his cheerful, generous nature, his affinity
	for the wilderness, his gentleness with animals, ...
		(see "Johnny Appleseed: Man and Myth" -- Price)

In the case of the Bible, the Truth of God's salvation of the world
through his only-begotten Son is neither myth nor exaggeration.

/john

>Looks like Pat was too subtle for you.

    Yes, but you have to remember that none of the participants here are as
    smart as you are, so we don't always grasp things well.  My suggestion
    is that if you use a lot of one syllable words and in general talk down
    to us even more than you already do, we might acquire a few grains of
    knowledge from the mountains of intellect that you shower our way;
    though, of course, we would never attain your own intellectual heights,
    we would at least obtain some benefit from your very presence.

    -- Mike

    Wait a minute.  I never said a myth is something what was made up
    or imaginary.  A myth can be factual, true and accurate.
    
    Richard
    

    In fact a myth can have truth far beyond actual historic reality.  I
    myth speaks to our heart and souls while historic reality speaks to our
    mind.

re Note 570.14 by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE:

>     Wait a minute.  I never said a myth is something what was made up
>     or imaginary.  A myth can be factual, true and accurate.
  
        I should hope so!

        For if the Bible, which Christians generally regard as true,
        therefore cannot be myth, then it is irrelevant (since the
        essence of a myth is something that explains "practice,
        belief, institution, or natural phenomena").

        Fortunately, the Bible is very much myth, and therefore does
        much to explain who we are, why we are, why we do what we do,
        and what and why we believe.

        Bob

    
    For those of you in the Boston+ area, "The Power Of The Myth" by Bill
    Moyers speaking with Joseph Campbell, is being aired in three 2-hour
    segments this week on Channel 44, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
    nights.  There was a marathon of all 6 episodes which was broadcast
    yesterday from 1-6pm on PBS Channel 2 from Boston.  Fabulous.
    
    Many things that have been discussed here are presented and
    substantiated - such as the concept of the Virgin/Savior and Goddess 
    appearing in many cultures - and I think it would be wonderful to 
    watch it if you are able to.
    
    Cindy

    
    re .17

    I picked up the companion book, "The Power of Myth." I found it in the
    discount bin for $2.99 and couldn't resist. I've just started, but it's
    fascinating reading.
    
    I'm in the middle of two other books as well, so I don't know when I'll
    finish this one. 

    Eric

    
    $2.99 - wow!  What a find!  Goodonyer, Eric.
    
    Hope you enjoy it as much as I have over the years.
    
    Cindy