Hello.
I would like to take just a brief moment to rant about the difference between a myth, a religion and a cult.
The official definition of a cult: the object of such devotion. A group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc. Sociology. A group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.
The official definition of a religion: A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. A specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion. The body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world.
The official definition of a myth: Any story that attempts to explain how the world was created or why the world is the way that it is. Myths are stories that are passed on from generation to generation and normally involve religion. Most myths were first spread by oral tradition and then were written down in some literary form. Many ancient literary works are, in fact, myths as myths appear in every ancient culture of the planet.
See a pattern? Well, that would be because they are all essentially the same.
What is a cult but a poorer, less powerful religion? What is a myth but a religion few believe in anymore?
The reason I bring this up is because we are reading “myths” in class and questioning the truth of them. No one (aside from us atheists) would ever question the truth of Christianity, but to me, that is a myth. The “myth” of the Greek gods was believed as a religion once, yet we question the “truth” of it. No one would ever say that the bible was unlikely to be true.
The other thing that has been really bothering me is a question on the California State Standards Test (the STAR test) last year. It was in the reading comprehension section. First, we had to read an article about “myths”, and then answer some questions. One of the questions was “Why did the Greeks invent their gods?” the answer they were looking for was “To explain natural happenings.” I was really angry about this question because the same question COULD be asked of Christianity, but no one ever would.
Just a few little things that anger me…
Goodbye.
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4 comments:
Kit kit kit...
I really enjoyed your lengthy and thourough comment on my rage entry. I saw this one so bare and commentless and couldn't help to express my opinion.
I do remember us having this very conversation a little while ago. I must say that I see complete truth in the point you are making.
I think it is not at all ridiculus to question christianity, or judeism(?) or buddhism or any other relion the same way we question myths. The only REAL difference between the two is that that the people who believed in myths are no longer alive. They were just as devoted to them as many people are now to religion. I guess this is because it gives them something to believe, something to follow. Or maybe they were never really given a choice, so it's just second nature to them. They don't even think to question it because thats just how it has been their whole life. (hmmm... sound a bit like F451?)
I'm sure you are at least vaguely familiar with a certain quote from John Lennon where he stated that they(The Beatles) were bigger than Jesus. If you read the full statment(which most people neglect to do) he says that Christianity will shrink and vanish. While this sounds ridiculous to us now, in a thousand years, who says this won't really happen? It happened with Greek myths didn't it?
He also says something like Jesus wasn't bad, but the disciples being the ones who ruined it, because they twisted it around. This isn't really relevant, but I liked that part.
Anyways... I also think it is interesting that religions such as Christianity and the practices ascociated with it have very pagan roots. This being ironic becuase how strongly paganism is rejected among christians today.
It truly is all a matter of PERSPECTIVE and the passing of time. I think most of the time it is easier for people to accept and believe what is familiar to them or is a social norm, then go against it. I have left a rather long comment, so I won't go into the brainwashing part of it, but remind me to talk to you about that some time.
Love,
Beth the Viking
I thought I should probably give you the quote, so here it is:
"Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first — rock and roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right, but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me"
-John Lennon
4 March 1966
I'm sure you know the story, but in response to the "we're bigger than jesus" part(which was almost always used out of context!) people flipped out and started burning Beatles stuff and having protests and what not. It's one of those examples of people taking their religion so far that they loose sight of what it's really about in the first place.
-Bethybumm
AHHAHA
wow
i think you brought this up in class once, but im not sure. i DO think that you bring up REEALLLY good points which i DO agree with. this all kind of goes back to F451...in a way. As in no one questioning the obvious. well thats not really in the book or is it? i dont know im kid of confusing myself as i am you. so my whole point of poseting this comment was to say that i really enjoyed reading this entry , just like i do all.
:)
great job
This is obviously coming late, but as I was checking blogs I noticed the asterisk next to this one and wanted to respond. I understand why people would be offended by having their religion called a myth, but what I like to think about is not how "wrong" or "unreal" a myth/religion/cult may or may not be, but what truths they have to communicate about human beings and human relationships. I don't believe in Athena, but I do believe that Homer has something to teach us about pride and guilt.
The John Lennon quote is fascinating. I'm one of those who never read it in context. It reminds me of what a German philosopher named Nietzsche also said about Christianity.
As far as the relationship between paganism and Christianity goes, one of my earliest memories about religion was when a friend of my father told me about the origins of my Saint's Day. Every family had a god/spirit that it worshiped. It was so entrenched in the culture that the Christians integrated it into their own belief system rather than try to do away with it all together. That way they could get more converts.
Thanks for brining up these issues.
Mr. J
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