World Mythology -- Third Period -- Monday

[atreideslioness]

Today there were flowers on Ghanima's desk, and she was humming happily as she composed a letter to Alianne as she waited for everyone to arrive.  Anyone who glanced at it when they walked by would probably see only gibberish, but one Aly cracked the code, she'd find it said, 'You wish.'  Among other things. 

Once everyone had arrived, she glanced up.  "Good morning, class.  I understand that this weekend was a holiday for many of you," Ghanima said, smiling.  "Hopefully you weren't too busy worshiping the false gods of flowers and chocolate hearts to get outside and enjoy some of the fresh air.  Today we discuss the complex and often contentious relationship between religion and mythology from an academic stance."

"Religion and mythology differ, but have overlapping aspects," she said.  "Both terms refer to systems of concepts that are of high importance to a certain community, making statements concerning the supernatural or sacred. Generally, mythology is considered one component or aspect of religion. Religion is the broader term: besides mythological aspects, it includes aspects of ritual, morality, theology, and mystical experience. A given mythology is almost always associated with a certain religion, such as Greek mythology with Ancient Greek religion. Disconnected from its religious system, a myth may lose its immediate relevance to the community and evolve—away from sacred importance—into a legend or folktale." 

"Now, the relationship between religion and myth depends on what definition of "myth" one uses."  Ghanima moved away from her desk to begin her traditional pacing of the room, waving her hands as she spoke.  "By Robert Graves's definition, a religion's traditional stories are "myths" if and only if one does not belong to the religion in question. By Segal's definition, all religious stories are myths -- but simply because nearly all stories are myths. By the folklorists' definition, all myths are religious,or 'sacred', stories, but not all religious stories are myths: religious stories that involve the creation of the world , like the stories in Genesis, are myths; however, religious stories that don't explain how things came to be in their present form, e.g. hagiographies of famous saints, are not myths."

"It should be noted that most definitions of "myth" limit myths to stories.  Thus, non-narrative elements of religion, such as ritual and theology, are not myths." 

"In a scholarly setting, the word "myth" may mean "sacred story", "traditional story", or "story involving gods", but it does not mean "false story". Therefore, many scholars refer to a religion's stories as "myths" without intending to offend members of that religion. For instance, a scholar may call the narratives in the Bible "mythology" without meaning to imply that the Bible is false or unhistorical. Nevertheless, this scholarly use of the word "myth" may cause misunderstanding and offense to people who cherish those myths. This is because the word "myth" is popularly used to mean "falsehood", so people who hold this view may think that a scholar who calls scripture "mythology" is calling it false.The Christian apologist C. S. Lewis made a clear distinction between myth and falsehood when he referred to the life of Christ as a myth "which is also a fact"."  Ghanima stopped for a moment, smiling at them.  "Have I made your head hurt, yet?"

"Where academia and religion often come into conflict is in the heart, rather than in the head.  Most religions contain a body of traditional sacred stories that are believed to express profound truth. Some religious organizations and practitioners believe that some or all of their traditional stories are not only sacred and "true", but also historically accurate and divinely revealed, and that calling such stories "myths" disrespects their special status. Other religious organizations and practitioners have no problem with categorizing their sacred stories as myths.  Objection to the word "myth" primarily grows out of a historical basis. By the time of Christ, the Greco-Roman world had started to use the term "myth", which comes from the Greek muthos, to mean "fable, fiction, lie"; as a result, the early Christian theologians used "myth" in this sense."

"As your fun fact for today, The Dewey decimal system covers religion in the 200 range, with books on "Religious mythology & social theology" a tiny subset listed under 201.  While that may seem insignificant at first glance, your assignment for this week is to go to the library and browse the 200s.  Look and see what books are shelved there, and think about what that says about the current modern perception of religion and mythology on a subconscious level."

[OCD IS UP]

Comments

Sign-In

[atreideslioness]

As if Spring Break is around the corner!

Re: Sign-In

[solo_sword]

Jaina Solo

Re: Sign-In

[harper-journeys.livejournal.com]

Menolly

During the Lecture

[atreideslioness]

As you do...

Re: During the Lecture

[weetuskenraider]

It was nice to be able to listen to the lecture without having to be constantly on guard in case part of her objected violently to some bit of it. Tahiri was listening as intently as usual, with 200% less stressed-out concentration than before.

Re: During the Lecture

[spiritandsword]

Annja was taking notes and paying close attention to this lecture. She wondered what some people would say if she told them how many times she had seen some myths actually come to life?

Re: During the Lecture

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

As much as she'd come to accept it in others, the idea of religion still fundamentally troubled Firekeeper. Perhaps even more so now that she had proof that, just as Ghanima said, "sacred story" didn't mean "false story". And now that was twice in only a handful of days that her thoughts had turned to the Meddler. Wouldn't he love that?

Re: During the Lecture

[endsthegame]

Ender was there, and at least paying some attention. His mind kept wandering, though; the overal impression might have been closer to distracted than he'd like.

Re: During the Lecture

[glacial_queen]

Karla was taking notes, though occasionally her thoughts would flit elsewhere.

Re: During the Lecture

[momslilassassin]

Ben was taking careful notes, as always, but was shooting little concerned looks toward Ender when he was pretty sure they wouldn't get noticed.

Re: During the Lecture

[solo_sword]

If it hadn't been for a certain visit, Jaina would probably be a stressed-out mess today (but TOTALLY FINE). Instead, she was listening calmly.

Re: During the Lecture

[eyebrowgoesup]

Spock took careful and assiduous notes that wouldn't be of much help to anyone else, because he was taking them in Vulcan today.

Group Discussion

[atreideslioness]

"What would your gut reaction be if you heard one of your 'sacred stories' referred to as myth? How would you feel? Why?" Ghanima walked up to the board at the front of the room, grabbing a marker. "Why do you think people allow such a small bit of semantics to start such a perfect storm?"

Re: Group Discussion

[harper-journeys.livejournal.com]

Menolly spoke up a bit tentatively to answer the fourth question. "Because words are important," she said, all Harper. "If the meaning of the word has shifted, a new word should be used or people may not understand the switch."

Or just make sure the language doesn't switch.

Re: Group Discussion

[glacial_queen]

"I feel...not quite offended, but certainly displeased," Karla admitted. "It feels like a cavalier dismissal of what I know is truth. truth. Especially since the Blood's creation story involves elements that I know people here consider fantastic." She shrugged a bit. "If I knew they were using 'myth' in the way that we've talked about today, it would be fine."

Re: Group Discussion

[she-sheds.livejournal.com]

"I suppose it would depend on how myth was meant in that context," Joolushko said. "If someone was using the word myth as you've described it here, then there is no need to be offended by that. If, however, in context the word is clearly meant to denigrate the story then that is entirely different matter."

Talk to the TAs

[atreideslioness]

If they are here.

Re: Talk to the TAs

[harper-journeys.livejournal.com]

Menolly was here and thinking hard.

Beauty was also here. She was sleeping on Menolly's desk.

Re: Talk to the TAs

[solo_sword]

Jaina was here and not thinking very hard. She was maybe a little distracted but that was easily fixed.

Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

Who is, as usual, bemused by this class.

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[endsthegame]

"Miss Ghanima?" Ender started, politely. "I'd like to apologise for missing class last week."

OOC

[atreideslioness]

Sorry for the repeat class, but I got home from the in-laws at an unholy hour of the morning due to a snowstorm. There's so much snow on the ground, that the city had to create new parking laws: NO parking on the even side of the street. 35+ inches of snow. Haaaaaaaaate.

Re: OOC

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

WALK IT OFF.

Re: OOC

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Last time I checked, in book stores in the religion section you'll find Christian, Jewish and Muslim texts. All pagan religions are off in the New Age, or Metaphysical Studies section.

Re: OOC

[solo_sword]

I heard it's 85 here today. *hides*