Why is "religion" a separate category from "mythology."?

Question

In the Yahoo answers forum, under the general heading of “Society & Culture”, there are two separate sub categories: “Mythology & Folklore,” and “Religion & Spirituality.” Why isn’t religion a direct sub category of mythology?

All religion is mythology. It is only a matter of perspective. For instance, most modern people do not believe in Norse Gods like Thor. So they are all in a sense atheistic. We could in fact call them “Athorists.” But when it comes to properly labeling Christian ideology as mythology, it is called religion, as if it deserves some special respect. All rational people see no difference between the insanity of Christianity and astrology, wicca, Norse theology or any other superstition.

Excepting the hubris of lifelong indoctrination and early brainwashing,
Why is “religion” even listed as a separate valid topic?

Answer 1

The QUICK answer to your "question" would be: GO ASK Y-ANSWERS!!!


But to ATTEMPT a SERIOUS answer to your "question," we start with Wikipedia:

The word myth has several meanings.

===A traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon;
===A person or thing having only an imaginary or unverifiable existence; or
===A metaphor for the spiritual potentiality in the human being.

Ancient polytheistic religions, such as those of Greece, Rome, and Scandinavia, are usually categorized under the heading of mythology. Religions of pre-industrial peoples, or cultures in development, are similarly called "myths" in the anthropology of religion. The term "myth" can be used pejoratively by both religious and non-religious people. By defining another person's religious stories and beliefs as mythology, one implies that they are less real or true than one's own religious stories and beliefs. Joseph Campbell remarked, "Mythology is often thought of as other people's religions, and religion can be defined as mis-interpreted mythology."

Humanists believe that all religion is based on myth, meaning that it is based on legendary stories that are not in fact true.

In sociology, however, the term myth has a non-pejorative meaning. There, myth is defined as a story that is important for the group whether or not it is objectively or probably true. Examples include the death and resurrection of Jesus, which, to Christians, explains the means by which they are freed from sin and is also ostensibly a historical event. But from a mythological outlook, whether or not the event actually occurred is unimportant. Instead, the symbolism of the death of an old "life" and the start of a new "life" is what is most significant.

NOW... to put it briefly, religion is often described as a "way of life" as opposed to just a "set of stories."

As with the quotation from Joseph Campbell, I wouldn't, if I were you, go around calling someone's religion a myth... colloquially, "dem's fight'n words!"

MAYBE this might give you some idea why Y-Answers considers the two as separate categories.

Answer 2

Mythology is reserved for the ancient stories that have been passed through every culture. It is folklore and the legends of ago. It's the stories that we don't know authors for or the history behind them. All we know is that they exist and continue to be studied and told. It's the stories in Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and other cultures of that era. They are all polytheistic in nature. There is a key element in these things. No one debates these being fact. People debate Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and so on as being fact. They are religions based upon a path to peace or eternal life. They aren't things explaining everyday occurences like many of the mythological stories are. No one is still following the likes of Zeus and Anubis, but people still and forever will follow God.

Answer 3

First, as I have risen to the defense of atherists against the scurrilous attacks from Christians, I will also rise to the defense of Christians against the scurrilous attacks from others.

Second, if you find that religion is mythic in your eyes, fine. You may hold that opinion, but keep your diatribes out of it.

Third, speak only for yourself. You do not know anything about me so it is equal hubris to speak for me. I have a tongue; I will use it for myself.

Fourth, to me, mythology includes such concepts as the Loch Ness Monster, mermaids, satyrs, harpies, fairies, nymphs, the Kraken, Atlantis. leprechans and the like.

Fifth, religion is about a Supreme Being and an afterlife, so I would include, Zeus, Odin, Ahura-Madza, Crom, Baal and whatever deity you may have in mind.

If you feel that the Headless Horseman and Apollo are equal in the scope of things, that's OK, too. I am willing to grant a seperation of those ideas

Lastly, you may express your opinion, but do so in a way that respects other people's beliefs and reflects only YOUR take on things

Answer 4

we only have a copy of the Bible but ,, there is an actual scrole called the bible in wich these stories we all discuss are writen down ,, the writers were men who lived threw or knew people who lived threw these events and although some of the stories that took place in the old testament could be disputed the new testiment has found it'self attatched to it and john and paul and mathuew did for sure exist and were not just buddies, jesus was the only reason they found themselves connected ..they had nothing else in comon.. and these connected people attatched themselves to those scroles ,with jesus as there guide they hung on to those so I'd put a little weight in the notion that they were of value of more then just myth....

Answer 5

I think Religion is for current Religions (mainly Christianity, but also Judaism, Islam and Hinduism etc.) and Mythology is for dead religions (ancient Greek and Norse gods for instance), which have few, if any, followers in the modern world.

Answer 6

Rational people? Insanity of Christianity?
Can I have some of the drugs you are taking?
All western law is based on The Ten Commandments.
Do not kill.
Do not steal
Do not lie... the list goes on.
Love your neighbor as yourself is some stupid mythological saying?
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Bless those who curse you.
Do good to those who spitefully use you.
Turn the other cheek.
you want to negate this stuff?
What kind of world will you have?
Lets see....
The religion of the god of science without morality:
11 million dead religious people in WWII, most of whom were Jews, scientifically 'proven' to be sub-human.
The Chinese were considered not quite human by the Japanese to justify killing them.
The Japanese were considered not quite human by us to justify killing them.
The Aborigines, Pygmies, and all Negroids in general were considered sub-human by scientific minds of the day.
Stem cell research, and human cloning would be out of control. How many clones of the sheep Molly were made before it became 'successful'? Over 900! almost a thousand failed clones, many that probably died a painful death before they got it 'right'.
This is the world you would have without the moral authority of Christianity.
Mythology? Jesus was a living person. We set TIME by him. His teachings are REAL. The Ten commandments are REAL.
Lifelong indoctrination and early brainwashing?
Oh, wait, you mean evolutionary teaching?
No other options.
Bow
Kneel
Pray for forgiveness to the mon-kee God of evolution, and their high priests, the heretics of the 'scientific' community.
They have truly succeeded in brainwashing you with a horrible perversion of what true science should be.
You really need to get a REAL education, and not an Internet one
Continue in ignorance.

Answer 7

First of all, anyone who sees our universe and its complexity, and thinks that it all happened by accident...is...a complete and utter moron. I don't care how many degrees you have, your income or how many people think you wise.

Nine orbs revolving like clockwork around a great orb of light...accident? The complexity of life down here...accident? No way. Dude, there is a God and what's wrong with you that you don't see Him? Are you among the damned? There is a question for you to figure out between you and God Almighty.

You suppose to know but many of us do know because we seek Him and He seeks us. I have seen miracles and I'm telling you right now... most are not God's, most are on their way to hell. I know the world is deaf to that message but it's still true...right now this moment. God moves and reveals Himself to those who mean business with Him... the rest are left wondering.

Answer 8

hey, i am with you on that one. I guess they get 2 categories on yahoo Q&A because they are the chosen ones

Answer 9

Can't you think of an original insult at least? Surely you saw the same question asked on here before. Get over yourself.

Answer 10

"Mythology" is for religions no one practices any longer and "religion" is for those that haven't yet turned into mythology