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From Religion to Mythology?

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I have a theory that all that use the the word "Mythology" have no belief in anything.
I disagree. Mythology is generally used by the conquering religion. The Roman religion was dominant when Jesus was born. When Christianity became dominant the Roman religion became “mythology.”
I do agree with your first statement about calling someone’s religion “mythology” being disrespectful, though.
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
Joseph Campbell defined mythology as other people's religions.

The problem with the use of the word "mythology" is that many use it to dismiss a belief system. In truth, it's all mythology if you understand what the word actually means in the hands of a professional.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
All civilizations of the world have invented their own religion and god.This was done to control man and to explain the unknown. Ancient western man looked to the top of Mount Olympus for rule and understanding.

That's a modern retrofit to dismiss religion in general, including whatever our own happens to be.

The majority never have direct personal experience of deity. A minority have always had, and continue to have, direct personal experience of deity. Why it's not all or none is one puzzle of religion. The experiences of the minority are the point of origin of religion. Some experience the divine. Others who don't chose to believe or chose to disbelieve. All else in religion follows. That includes the discovery that religion can be used to control.

"Religion to Mythology" the problem with a lot that has been said here on this subject is that all masons must beleive in some sort of GAOTU. That may or may not be apart of a formal religion. A religion is formality of a belief.

Across history most religions have not mandated belief. Belief was common but not mandatory. Most religions are about correct action, orthopraxy, not about correct belief, orthodoxy. See the terms cultural Jew, ethnic Hindu, small boat Buddhist for not requiring belief.

This makes our requirement to believe potentially problematic from members of religions outside of the JCI family or older than Christianity within the JCI family. Belief is a choice independent of membership.

the problem is the word "Mythology" which means you don't respect my belief so you say it is fake.

Scripture - The allegories of my religion. Mythology - The allegories of your religion. In many cases that's how the words are used.

I offer a different division that might be useful. Myths - The stories of any religion, independent of whether its yours, mine, new or ancient. Practice - What the members of any one religion do. Belief - What the members are taught to believe.
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
...I offer a different division that might be useful. Myths - The stories of any religion, independent of whether its yours, mine, new or ancient. Practice - What the members of any one religion do. Belief - What the members are taught to believe.
Joseph Campbell said it best: A Myth is a metaphor; Religions are filled with metaphors. Hence, religions by their very nature are mythic.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
I disagree. Mythology is generally used by the conquering religion. The Roman religion was dominant when Jesus was born. When Christianity became dominant the Roman religion became “mythology.”
I do agree with your first statement about calling someone’s religion “mythology” being disrespectful, though.

I think "mythology" is wider than that.... for instance, there is a "mythology" around many aspects of WW2. I don't think myth is just used for something which did not exist, but also something historic for which there are not accurate historical sources independently verifiable. .... or maybe just the status of something, like a Victoria Cross winner, for whom people project and espouse all sorts of thoughts, feelings and actions which we just cannot know to be true.
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
The label "mythology" is only viewed as disrespectful by the ignorant and those who sincerely and earnestly believe their chosen religion is not based upon mythos. No, I was not being redundant.

Myths communicate truths. It is most unfortunate that the manner those truths are conveyed is too often as historic fact and taken as such. The result usually brings forth arguments, war and death when others don't go along for the ride.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Myths communicate truths. It is most unfortunate that the manner those truths are conveyed is too often as historic fact and taken as such. The result usually brings forth arguments, war and death when others don't go along for the ride.
I must say that I had not thought of the topic in this context before. Something to consider.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
The label "mythology" is only viewed as disrespectful by the ignorant and those who sincerely and earnestly believe their chosen religion is not based upon mythos. No, I was not being redundant.

Myths communicate truths. It is most unfortunate that the manner those truths are conveyed is too often as historic fact and taken as such. The result usually brings forth arguments, war and death when others don't go along for the ride.

And sometimes not just truths - but how we want the world to be or how we want something viewed - projecting preferred values onto the story or "myth".
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
And sometimes not just truths - but how we want the world to be or how we want something viewed - projecting preferred values onto the story or "myth".
Mythologies help shape your view of the world and if it is done right, it puts you in harmony with a nature that nurtures.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
Mythologies help shape your view of the world and if it is done right, it puts you in harmony with a nature that nurtures.
Spot on Coach - more, its exactly how Freemasonry used Myth - and why we love creating them, from degrees to "masonic history" which appears in books..
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
Spot on Coach - more, its exactly how Freemasonry used Myth - and why we love creating them, from degrees to "masonic history" which appears in books..
I'm afraid that we shall have to agree to agree here Brother. Darn! Where's all the good debate fodder when ya need it? ;-)
 

Bloke

Premium Member
I'm afraid that we shall have to agree to agree here Brother. Darn! Where's all the good debate fodder when ya need it? ;-)
Don't worry Brother - we will find something to argue about and liven up things... but please it's not this week, debating is something which takes a lot of energy and this week's already demanding enough... :)
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
Don't worry Brother - we will find something to argue about and liven up things... but please it's not this week, debating is something which takes a lot of energy and this week's already demanding enough... :)
Well... okay... but only 'cause ya asked me nicely...
 
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Matt Ross

Registered User
Honestly I know that this is a VERY old post, but I think I can shed some light here. Religion in my opinion is a form of mythology in its attempt to explain the unknown by attributing it to things that are known. Dr. Joseph Campbell's interview series with Bill Moyers The Power of Myth, is a great way to explain the allusions to universality in thinking when talking about religious beliefs and their roots in mythology.

At the end of the day, it's down to what you believe is the most influential force in your life. For me, I believe in the Christian God and I also believe in the energy of that deity that is all around us and breeds life, grows it, and surrounds us all, to others it may be Allah, Buddha, or any variety of gods in the Hindu religion.

In terms of religion being used as a form of control over humanity is a very narrow minded approach to man's attempt to explain the unknown. There is a higher power, I have no proof of whether it exists or doesn't exist but I choose to put my faith in my religion, as all Masons do.
 
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