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Mythology and Relevance - Page 2

© Wayne Kreger

The Value of Mythology

So is that all mythology can do - tell us how to live our lives? This is the main function of mythology for the ones who hold the mythology as important - though we as outsiders are certainly welcome to learn from it as well, provided we understand some of the cultural paradigms reflected in the mythology.

The social sciences (anthropology, history, and psychology, to name a few) can use mythology in other ways. Let us turn to the work of Carl Gustav Jung, the second major figure (in terms of chronology) of the history of psychology. Though Jung's conclusions about the nature of mythology (and the mind, for that matter) have been a subject of controversy in academic circles, his contribution to what I call the "science of myth" is enormously important. He was the first thinker to discuss archetypes in great detail, as they apply to dreams, religion and mythology. Archetypes are the "springs" from which all characters of the mind (those existing in dreams and mythology) come. We, as human beings, share these archetypes in our unconscious mind. For instance, Jung guessed there existed an archetype of the Wise Old Man. We see wise old men pop up in mythology from around the world. Jung says these are instances of the Wise Old Man archetype, and that they share a common role in the thought of all people - a gentle granter of advice, perhaps. While I admit this isn't exactly hard science, it is a good framework from which to begin investigation of mythology. Jung (and many others) have identified numerous archetypes, and using these as a basis we can endeavour to learn more about the minds of individuals and communities. We can get to the heart of mythology, and discover why they were written, which social ills or triumphs they were meant to elaborate upon, and how they were meant to appeal to those that heard them.

Mythology Versus Religion

Though mythology and religion are certainly linked, I feel it's important to distinguish them. Religion makes reference to mythology in explaining different theologies, rituals, and art work. Mythology, in some form, can be found in nearly all of the world's religious texts. However, mythology need not be religious - mythology can exist as a means to explain natural phenomenon, customs, and history without appealing to religion. Religion is more about what we do and believe, while mythology is how we explain and understand things. Though the distinction can be confusing, think of it this way: religion tells us what to believe and why we should believe it, while mythology tells us why things are the way they are.

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