Why is religion in a separate category from mythology?

Answer 1

Good question.
The two concepts are different, yet related.
You see, 'religion' encompasses all the practices and rituals specific to a belief system, and 'mythology' is the collection of stories that serve as the basis for a belief system.
One is the folklore, one is the practice.

You should be more careful when posing this sort of question, because many religious people protest at the idea of having their belief systems referred to as 'mythology,' implying that their deities are fictional (which goes against everything the mainstream religions teach).

Answer 2

That's a good question. It's all to do with belief, and from an outside objective perspective there may not be any differences at all. But those who hold religious convictions will hold their faith as the absolute truth, despite evidence to the contrary. As more and more physical, empirical evidence mount up to shed light on the historical and scientific inaccuracies of religions, some of them accommodate the change and others stick to their doctrine. That's why there are so many sects and denominations of the same faith.

The best definition of religion that I've ever heard was from a priest who told me that faith is the belief in a mystery.

Answer 3

Perhaps a question best answered by pagans and wiccans. Jewish theology could also fall into this category,particularly the tanahk,or Old testament. Christ's teachings are more comparable to Gandhi and notwithstanding the performance of miracles,the values He articulated have more in common with contemporary humanism than ancient mythology.

Answer 4

I've wondered this myself since everything in Mythology was once part of a religion at one time in the Ancient Religions except for the few that were just myths in stories and parables which can also be found in stories and parables of other modern religions.

I think it is because of the so called fantasy aspect of them and because they aren't openly discussed as religious truth anymore in modern times.

Answer 5

Mythology is reserved for the historic comments that have been exceeded by employing employing each and every custom. it somewhat is folklore and the legends of contained in the previous. this is the comments that we don't comprehend authors for or the historic previous on the decrease back of them. All all of us comprehend is they exist and carry to be studied and urged. this is the comments in Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and diverse cultures of that era. they're all polytheistic in nature. there's a key element in those concerns. no person debates those being actuality. human beings debate Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, etc as being actuality. they're religions located upon a path to peace or eternal existence. they do no longer seem to be concerns explaining daily occurences like lots of the mythological comments are. no person maintains to be following the likes of Zeus and Anubis, although persons however and frequently will adjust to God.

Answer 6

you know, I like this question. My only answer would be.. well, according to the dictionary, a myth is defined as - traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, esp. one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.

But, it's also defined as:
- any invented story, idea, or concept: His account of the event is pure myth.
- an imaginary or fictitious thing or person.
-an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution.


I guess it's separated because religious people see their religion as something that really happened, like Catholics (which I am) and Muslims. (that Jesus/Allah really came to Earth)
good question!!

Answer 7

Good question. I'd like to know the answer to that as well. I'd also like to know why most questions about Witchcraft and Wicca are asked in the mythology section.
These religions are just as valid as any other.

Answer 8

The answer boils down to definition of practice.

Religion is a category all its own because it is in current practice in the world we live in today.

Mythology, by definition is ancient lore with no bearing on current practice.

The two are often mistaken for one another, but the difference is in whether or not it is in practice. Religion is principle and lore that is in practice now and has bearing on said practices, and mythology is religious principle and lore that is no longer in practice and has no current bearing on practice of faith...

Hope this helps...

Answer 9

religion and mythology can differ in that mythology uses "supernatural" allegories to explain things that people at the time did not understand, but there didnt necessarily have to be a "faith" or dogma attached. religion, on the other hand, uses the same myths, but attaches it to a "moral" code. sorry for all the "s", but im not finding the exact words i need to explain myself.

Answer 10

Because certain *cough* groups *cough* want a special category for THEIR mythology, while simultaneously believing that everyone else's religion is just "made up stories."