Theology Question!!!

[carneman]

Why is Greek religion called mythology while present day religion is called religion? Didn't the aincent Greeks believe in their gods just as we believe in God?

[Sparrowhawk]

Hmmm, an interesting question indeed. We are currently studying Greek mythology in class, and there are a few possible reasons.

Most ancient religions were based on fear of terribly powerful, all knowing gods, that had little feeling for humans. However, the Greeks made their gods like man, many believe to make themselves feel more comfortable in worship and with the things they did.

Rather than having a god(s) that was to be feared because of his great power and almost impossible to comprehend, their gods were extremely human-like with many human weaknesses. ie the Greek gods were not all-knowing, and they often tricked each other.

Most people were afraid of their gods because they were irreproachable by most people, and they must conform to seek their favor. Greeks, however, made their gods like themselves with many of the same weaknesses (Zeus had many, many affairs) and the gods kidnapped each other (Hades, who by the way they did not considere evil, but just, but also rather mean, kidnapped his own niece to be his wife). When the gods did such things but were still considered good, it made their own ways seem good. Sure, they messed up, but as long as you lived a decent life, you were good enough.

This was something most religions at the time did not have; that, and the fact that no-one (well, maybe someone, but not likely) believes in that religion any more are two reasons it is called mythology. Today they (Greeks) are considered the father of humanists and in fact many of our customs and ways can be traced starting to them and the Romans, but now humanists consider that they have "evolved" their thinking past the time of needing to rely on a diety for anything. So you could say it is considered mythology because the worship is dead, but many ways of thinking evolved from the roots their religion set up.

Edit: This is nowhere near all the explanation that could be done on this subject. I have left out many topics and, trying to be short, made the ones i talked about unclear (the Greeks did value good things as well, but i was just pointing out the weaknesses of their gods that was rather unique). I may have made it seem that i dont like humanists but actually our culture is filled with it, and not just in a bad way. We believe that humans are valuable, something humanists promote, humanism actually tries to promote the good side of humans, but trying to make humans good without forgiveness and grace is impossible (all have sinned) and people will keep doing things we know are wrong. So, basically its not that i dont like humanists, we just need to realize our dependency on God to teach us what good truly is, because, as you can tell by looking at human history, we get it messed up a lot even when we think we have got it right

[Technomancer]

Why is Greek religion called mythology while present day religion is called religion? Didn't the aincent Greeks believe in their gods just as we believe in God?

The principal difference is that mythology is only a portion of what is encompassed by religion. By this we mean that Greek, or other pre-Christians religions also included social structures, rituals, particular beliefs and so on. Mythology by contrast focuses primarily on the set of stories by which a culture encodes their religious and moral beliefs.

In this sense one can (and often does) speak of 'Christian mythology' both in relation to portions of the bible as well as to other stories (legends surrounding the lives of the saints for example). In these cases the actual historicity of the account is secondary to the meaning of the story in its religious context, and thus a more mythological/symbolic reading of the stories may be of more value. Admittedly, this isn't often done in most commonly available texts, given the popular belief that myth is merely about made-up stories, and not about the underlying cultural truths and values that they embody. As a result, most purely popular books distinguish between current and dead religions by relegating the latter to the status of "myth".

[Slater]

as far as I can see, there isn't a whole lot of difference in this case. People did worship those "gods" as if they are real. I think that the portions of it that are called myth are those written by people like Homer.

[mitsuki lover]

The Greeks never had a set theology like the Jews.They tended more toward
philosophy.

[Arnobius]

Mythology are the stories of the gods. Properly speaking you could say "The ancient Greek religion," and I have several textbooks that discuss "the religion of Pagan Greece and Rome."

Myth indicates "once upon a time," with no reference to when. In contrast, with Jesus Christ, God entered history at a specific place and time.

[GhostontheNet]

Why is Greek religion called mythology while present day religion is called religion? Didn't the aincent Greeks believe in their gods just as we believe in God?

This is a loaded question, one can see this in the definitions of "myth"

1. A. A traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a fundamental type in the worldview of a people, as by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the psychology, customs, or ideals of society: the myth of Eros and Psyche; a creation myth.
B. Such stories considered as a group: the realm of myth.
2. A popular belief or story that has become associated with a person, institution, or occurrence, especially one considered to illustrate a cultural ideal: a star whose fame turned her into a myth; the pioneer myth of suburbia.
3. A fiction or half-truth, especially one that forms part of an ideology.
4. A fictitious story, person, or thing: “German artillery superiority on the Western Front was a myth” (Leon Wolff).

As seen by the order of definitions, definitions 3 and 4 are derivative from 1 and 2, that a myth is primarily a story of explanation, with 3 and 4 signifying that they are fabricated tales, but it is dependent upon context whether or not one wishes to signify that something is a falsehood. This is much like the way scholars (especially classical scholars) use "cult", i.e. "Temple cult" or "Imperial cult" not to signify what on the pop level people usually mean by the word, but "A system or community of religious worship and ritual."
or "The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual."

[termyt]

GhostontheNet provides a good, encompassing definition.

The basic misconception is that a myth is false and that is not the case.

The Bible is Christian mythology. The beginning of Genesis details our creation myth.

Both Greek myth and Christian teachings fall under the first definition of myth given in Ghost's post above. If anything, it's centuries of Christian bias (and rightfully so) that have caused the third fourth definitions above to come into being. With the dominance of Christianity in our culture, other religions are seen as fictional stories. Since "myth" has been almost exclusively related to the teachings of other religions, it has taken on the third and fourth definitions.

[Technomancer]

Along the lines of what I and others have said, you will find this book to be an excellent read. I highly recommend it.

[GhostontheNet]

Both Greek myth and Christian teachings fall under the first definition of myth given in Ghost's post above. If anything, it's centuries of Christian bias (and rightfully so) that have caused the third fourth definitions above to come into being. With the dominance of Christianity in our culture, other religions are seen as fictional stories. Since "myth" has been almost exclusively related to the teachings of other religions, it has taken on the third and fourth definitions.

I don't have any data to back this up, but much like what has emerged as postmodernism, I suspect the 3rd and 4th definitions reflect a skepticism that narratives can actually have meaning and be true at the same time.

[Arnobius]

I don't have any data to back this up, but much like what has emerged as postmodernism, I suspect the 3rd and 4th definitions reflect a skepticism that narratives can actually have meaning and be true at the same time.

It's a good point. Though definition 4 uses a secular example, it seems to be in the context of "as much a myth as the ancients" and shows myth as not having much value

The Bible is Christian mythology. The beginning of Genesis details our creation myth.

Parts of the Bible (Genesis prior to Abraham) might be classified as Myth in first sense of the term, but I would recommend being careful in using that term on the forum, as some members might see myth and think "false story." We need to remember not to forget to say we believe it to be inspired lest someone thinks we use the term in skepticism.

I think it would be inaccurate to say the Bible is mythology as a blanket statement though. It is a collection of books, including history, law, poetry, songs etc.

[shooraijin]

Just to head this off, we should probably keep away from the question of whether the Bible ought to be interpreted literally, as some of the posts here have that as a logical next pursuit.

[termyt]

Parts of the Bible (Genesis prior to Abraham) might be classified as Myth in first sense of the term, but I would recommend being careful in using that term on the forum, as some members might see myth and think "false story." We need to remember not to forget to say we believe it to be inspired lest someone thinks we use the term in skepticism.

That was my point, though. A myth does not have to be false. A myth can be very true. For example, the story of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is part of the USA's creation myth. Paul Bunyan and Paul Revere are both heroes of American mythology. One is ficticious (or at least the stories told of him are), the other is quite factual.

I think it would be inaccurate to say the Bible is mythology as a blanket statement though. It is a collection of books, including history, law, poetry, songs etc.

That's not a bad definition of mythology in itself.

I'm not trying to make anyone uncomfortable, just help expand your knowledge and think outside of the box.

[mitsuki lover]

Webster's is no good at supplying a decent definition of myth and mythology.

Any way I agree that it is easy to get into an argument of how we differ in
how we interpret the Bible.
The question should really be is it SPRITIUALLY TRUE for us.

[Arnobius]

That was my point, though. A myth does not have to be false. A myth can be very true. For example, the story of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is part of the USA's creation myth. Paul Bunyan and Paul Revere are both heroes of American mythology. One is ficticious (or at least the stories told of him are), the other is quite factual.


That's not a bad definition of mythology in itself.

I'm not trying to make anyone uncomfortable, just help expand your knowledge and think outside of the box.

I think the difference is one of verification.

Take Ancient Rome. We have records Julius Caeser existed, but not Romulus and Remus. I think the reason somethings are considered myth is because they can't be established.

I think this is why the term "myth" has been applied by some to Genesis prior to Abraham, because it hasn't been something verified outside the Bible by other sources.

[I hope nobody thinks I'm disparaging the Bible. I'm just trying to distinguish what "Myth" is]

[mitsuki lover]

I think it important to realize though that there was a partiuliar reason why certain
stories are in the Bible.They're to provide us with spiritual lessons.This is why we
need to be careful on insisting on the Bible as a text book for science or history
as that is not what the Bible is for.
off topic:Anyone else been watching Science of the Bible on NAtional Geogrpahic
Channel Wednesdays?

[Nate]

I think it important to realize though that there was a partiuliar reason why certain
stories are in the Bible.They're to provide us with spiritual lessons.This is why we
need to be careful on insisting on the Bible as a text book for science or history
as that is not what the Bible is for.

While I agree with you completely, keep in mind that shooby specifically said NOT to bring this up. All your post will do is cause people who DO use the Bible as a history/science textbook to become aggressive.

[termyt]

I think the difference is one of verification.

Take Ancient Rome. We have records Julius Caeser existed, but not Romulus and Remus. I think the reason somethings are considered myth is because they can't be established.

I think this is why the term "myth" has been applied by some to Genesis prior to Abraham, because it hasn't been something verified outside the Bible by other sources.

[I hope nobody thinks I'm disparaging the Bible. I'm just trying to distinguish what "Myth" is]

Verification is a good measuring stick of sorts, although I don't believe you can encompass all of mythology with it; nor can you eliminate the Bible using it.

Even though there is no other book in all of antiquity that has been more scrutinized and has better verification than the Bible, we do not have verification of many of the Bible's stories. The Tower of Babel, the Flood, the Garden of Eden, Christ is the only begotten Son of God, all of these can not be verified outside of the scriptures.

[Arnobius]

[quote="termyt"]Verification is a good measuring stick of sorts, although I don't believe you can encompass all of mythology with it]
No, but we can verify Jesus existed from outside sources though. Josephus for example. The others I agree with, and that is why some call them "myth."

But I don't use myth to mean "not true"

[termyt]

That was the whole of my original point. "Myth" is not necessarily synonymous with "false."

[Arnobius]

That was the whole of my original point. "Myth" is not necessarily synonymous with "false."

Also my point. I guess there was a misunderstanding somewhere in there. Sorry about that.

[termyt]

It happens. We had a nice little discussion, anyways.

[Arnobius]

It happens. We had a nice little discussion, anyways.

Yeah... kind of hard to persuade the other person to change sides when they're both on the same side, but it was nice discussing this stuff again... hadn't done it since grad school and it was nice to stretch my brain.