Religious langauge : Myths

·         Myth; a story which communicates the values and/or ultimate beliefs of a culture or society, such as the stories of King Arthur and The Round Table. The word myth can be used in a variety of ways.

·         For some, myth indicates that a story is fictional and untrue.  Fables would fit this interpretation of myth.

·         For religious people, it communicates a particular worldview; the set of values and beliefs a person or group have about the world.  This worldview will cover a particular group’s response to the ultimate questions about life, death, goodness and evil.

·         Importance o myths is that they communicate truths; the values of a society.  Seen in stories such as those of ancient Greece about Hercules, Zeus and Hades.  There are myths found in most cultures.

·         They do not solve problems or questions, but express an attitude in the presence of a mystery.  They are not meant to be verifiable or rationalised. 

·         Seeks to explore our relationship with God, the cosmos and our destiny.

·         There are many different myths.  Vardy observed that the same ideas and values are communicated in myths in all different cultures.  Creation myths, flood, and virgin births are prominent.

·         For Christians today, myths communicate the values of Christianity as well as the response of Christians and to some of the ultimate questions in life…