What is the difference between the Bible and mythology?

Question

First, i guess i need to explain what I'm doing, since "someone" brought it up.
I am not some poor ignorant reject that doesn't know how to gather information or research or teach effectively as a certain extremely bitter retired teacher suggested in his answer to my last question.
I am gathering research for my class concerning how society views mythology, and how they view the Bible in relation to mythology.
I take the answers you provide, along with answers from other sources, and share them with my class.
If you do not want your answer discussed or included in our informal "research", then don't answer, but I would appreciate your help. Just answer honestly and be yourself.
My kids enjoyed the last set of responses, especially the funny one.
they were even able to find humor in the bitter old retired teacher's response.
So, what say ye? How does the Bible relate to mythology or how does mythology relate to the Bible?
thanks everyone for your viewpoints.

I'll be picking a best answer soon, but I first wanted to say thank you to everyone that participated and answered this question. I would pick everyone that answered, but I cannot, I'm only allowed one. The one I pick will not necessarily be the one I agree with, but will be the person that best supported their stand with reasons.
To "itsme" do not assume I asked the question based on my belief. the reason behind this informal research is I want my students to dig deep and be able to explain why they believe what they believe. We will use these answers (along with others I'm collecting) and discuss 1) how will you answer criticisms against your position and 2) how well do those that hold a different viewpoint do in supporting their position.
I

Answer 1

If you are "researching" this like you would for a term paper or a book you would have to put personal belief behind. Many people who say that the Bible and mythology are not related because of the fact that the Bible is "real" are only answering from the standpoint of their personal beliefs, which is fine. If you are looking simply for what different people believe I am sure you can find many people who say that and many people who will say the opposite. However if you are looking objectively you have to look at the definition of mythology and compare it to the Bible and what the Bible offers.

The word myth means fable or legend.

"A myth is also distinctly different from an allegory or parable which is a story deliberately made up to illustrate some moral point but which has never been assumed to be true by anyone."

"Broadly speaking myths and mythologies seek to rationalize and explain the universe and all that is in it. Thus, they have a similar function to science, theology, religion and history in modern societies. Systems of myths have provided a cosmological and historical framework for societies that have lacked the more sophisticated knowledge provided by modern science and historical investigation."

So looking at those two quotations (reference will be cited below) the Bible can loosely be defined as mythology with a few distinctions.

If a myth is different than a parable then the Bible would not be a myth because the Bible uses parables to illistrate the lessons. Of course the above also describes a parable as "a story deliberately made up to illustrate some moral point but which has never been assumed to be true by anyone."

I think a lot of "believers" will take issue with that, however that is another discussion"

Now the definition of mythology is to explain occurances in the Universe and wouldn't that mean the Bible and perhaps all religion can be equated to Mythology?

So yes, the bible can be related to mythology.

For everyone who is going to say I am wrong, I just want to point out that I only compared and analyzed the available definitions of mythology with what the Bible is, a group of parables to teach people lessons and how to live and a book that is at the foundation of a religion that is there to explain the universe and all that is in it.

Answer 2

I believe that there is no conection between the bible and mythology at all. Mythology when it boils right down to it is a false story from a religious system based on gods and events that simply could not happen, I mean really does the idea of a six armed man or a man with a bulls head seem posible?There are several problems with mythology as historical fact,on the other hand the bible has been proven correct again and again in historical and scientific FACT! I don't know you religon but my advise to all who see this is that what I have said is what I belive, and my advise is the best way to tell is to read the bible for yourself.I give my thanks to you sir for posting such a good subject,I will check back and I am shure it will have interesting results

Answer 3

Mythology is defined as: a set of stories, traditions, or beliefs associated with a particular group or the history of an event, arising naturally or deliberately fostered. (dictionary.com)

The bible is a part of mythology, not separate. Most Christians will say that the bible is real, therefore is not a part of mythology because the term "myth" gives the impression that a story is not true. But when looking at the definition of the word, the bible would be included in mythology. And it is studied in mythology classes along with Greek, Roman, Buddhist, etc.

All myths are basically the same. The only differences are due to physical differences such as climate and terrain. There are at least 5 flood myths that are almost exactly the same as the "Noah's Ark" myth, the only differences are the names of the characters. There are other flood myths based on the same principal of "God" being angry at the way his creations turned out and decided to get rid of them by means of a flood. Creation myths are relatively close to one another also.

Answer 4

Mythology is a broad subject that includes all tales about gods people have ever invented. The Bible is a collection of myths chosen by a group of Christian church leaders. There are four offshoots of the ancient Hebrew religion: Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Mormonism. They each have their own books of mythology, although they agree on some points. An analogy is that mythology and women are broad terms, while the Bible and Miyuki Komatsu are more specific ones. The Bible is just one set of many myths, and Miyuki is just one woman of many.

Answer 5

Both the Bible and mythology is a set of stroies with moral lessons at the end to help us learn to be better people. The differeance between the two is the Bible is more widely acepted to be true, where as mythology, even when the only differeance between it and the Bible is automaticly thought of as fiction. Commen sense however would revel even myths have a basis in facts, even if they do often times become exagertaed in the retellings.

Answer 6

From the details of your question I discern that you are a scholar, or possibly even an instructor at an institution of higher learning. If truth must be told, I am a college dropout, so don't take my answer too seriously.

Your question essentially is: "How do the Bible and mythology differ?" (And to not be misunderstood let us clarify that we are discussing the Christian Bible only.)

Answer: Mythology is 'for entertainment purposes only and not to be believe.' The Bible is a collection of Truths revealed by God and compiled by Man to be used as a teaching aide by the Teaching Office of Christ, the Church. It is not a science book. It is not a history book. It is not a blue-print of the future. And it is NOT to be taken literally. What the Bible IS, is an outline of God's Salvation Plan for Mankind. None-the-less, the Bible cannot be read in a void nor can it be taken out of context.

The Bible is written in metaphorical language, told in parables and is (in parts) apocalyptic literature. For this reason the Bible appears to incorporate elements of mythology. However, when one realizes (for example) that apocalyptic writing uses much exotic symbolism to arrive at a revelation, then one can begin to see the difference.

Example: When the author of Revelation speaks of 'scorpians the size of horses' one visualizes primorial times when mythical monsters ruled the world. Revelation is in reality speaking of heretics that infect men with the poison of their heresy and likening the injury of their heresy to the sting of a scorpian the size of a horse!

When the Bible speaks of a "Great Flood," something in common with Native American beliefs, that story certainly would appear to be 'mythological' in nature. However, science is reporting findings of evidence of an actual great flood in olden times. And the Ark of Noah, does it really rest on Mt. Ararat in Turkey? Food for thought.

Short answer: Myth deals in entertainment; the Bible deals with Truth.

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Answer 7

alot of mythology was at one time a religion or based upon religion. Mythology are stories whether you believe in them or not.The Bible is a collection of stories. So if you believe in the Bible then no is it not mythology, but if you don't believe in the Bible stories as fact then it would be considered Mythology. It is all based upon perception, if someone alive today believed in the Norse Gods then the stories pertaining to the Viking Gods wouldn't be mythology to them. Mythology is a point of view acceptance and majority acceptance.

Answer 8

The Bible is God's word. It is true. Mythology was entirely created by people. Men did write the Bible, but under the guidence of the Holy Spirt. It is sixty books, written over a long time by many different authors, but has one continous theme throughout. It has never been proven wrong on any point.

Answer 9

They are one and the same. Someone made up the bible and someone made up mythology.

Mythology was created by the masses to explain the unexplainable.

The bible was written to explain the unexplainable.

Both were used as a set of rules, both shown consequences for doing wrong.

Neither can be fully trusted for both were/are the word of God/ Gods and Goddesses but they were told by a man. What both said is man cannot be trusted, Adam and Eve in the bible, Pandora in Greek mythology.

It goes so much deeper but too much for me to write here.

Answer 10

I love answers like, the bible is real and mythology is made up (ek). Nothing wrong with a sense of humor. Anyway, there is no difference between mythology and the bible. Each one is based on stories, neither is real, but both are based on ideas.