distinguish the two levels of the word myth?

Answer 1

It's probably in your notes, dear. Or if it isn't, you weren't paying close enough attention to the teacher. S/he's there for a reason, you know.

Do your own homework. I finished mine thirty years ago.

Answer 2

The more common usage of myth these days tends to be rather dismissive. The notion is that a myth is a "made up story" that our ancestors created because they didn't understand how the world was made or where they come from.

In a deeper sense, however, myth is a part of our collective unconscious and as such is vital to our survival.

In many ways the stories that make up the Bible are myths in both senses of the word. Scientific discovery and investigation have persuaded most people that the earth is not in the center of the universe and that the age of the planet is far in excess of Bishop Ussher's assessment. On the other hand, the story of the mythic hero, separated from his father, going on a journey into the wilderness, dying and visiting the land of the dead before being united with his father in the land of the gods is one that fits Jesus very nicely.

A look at Karl Jung's archetypes and Joseph Campbell's "The Hero's Journey" will testify to the power of myth in our lives.

A more recent work "Why God Won't Go Away," by Andrew Newberg, explores myth in relation to the neurobiology of belief.

It's a fascinating field.

Answer 3

A myth is defined as a story about the past that is told and retold in order to express certain values. Myths should not pretend factual claims, but serve only to express certain values. The proof of a myth is not whether some archaeologist can unearth evidence verifying the claim, but whether the values it conveys can be vindicated.

People generally accept the word myth to mean something untrue, but the word isn't intended to mean the opposite of verified fact. The truth in myths are the morals of the stories, not the factuality of events.

Answer 4

The word myth is a simple word. It only means a story of particular significance, usually religious or societal. The truth or falsehood is not implied by the word myth. Using teh word to accurately describe stories from religions of long ago has given it the feel of falsehood but it really doesn't mean that. The Bible is a book of myths, for Christians, these myths are truth, for the rest of us, they are false, regardless, they are still myths.

Answer 5

well, capital M MYTH for those that explain the big mysteries, like how the world came to be ... those that are foundational to a world view, and thougtht by many to be true. Small m myth for stories, hoaxes, (think myth busters), that are on a smaller scale and really may be cultural but have little effect on the big M myths -- less consequential

Answer 6

A myth has only one level.
It is not true. For the truth
is never a myth.

Answer 7

a false belief, an image which accounts for natural phenomena