at what point does religion become myth?

Question

At one point what we know today as greek mythology was the actual religious beliefs

Norse mythology was their actual beliefs

at what point does religion cross into mythology?

and yes, alot of people consider curent religions as Mythology already, but for a definition purpose they arent. You study Christianity in a Theology class, and Greek Mythology in a Mythology class.

Answer 1

its all myth, but according to popular ideas today, it becomes myth when the majority no longer beleives in it

Answer 2

Historically, when a different religion gets forced onto a society. In the past the religion of the people was the religion of the king. Or Else.

If you believe a religious position, then pretty much by definition, all other religions must be wrong. If they are wrong then they are mythology rather than truth.

Everyone on the planet seems to think that most religion is mythology. A growing proportion is willing to move that last step and say all of it is.

I am hoping that it will be when people finally see the doctrine and dogma for what it really is and learn to live in the real world rather than the delusions derived from bronze age mythology.

Answer 3

I'm not gonna answer your question, just bring up what I think is a more important point. All religions involve myth, just some are regarded as truth for those people. I can personally testify that the "myths" of the Norse people are still strong in my community. But they are all myth, and myth I would describe as Alan Watts would, as the transfer of idea's my painting pictures with words. Pictures are all to often more powerful than numbers, which is how I would describe science's was of describing the world. Neither are "true" in some sense, from both you have to find the words. The problem is that contemporary religions obsess over their words being true. The words paint a picture and then words that come later are true, not the words are true. Gotta wrap your head around it for it to make sense :/

Answer 4

myth
–noun
1. a 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.
2. stories or matter of this kind: realm of myth.
3. any invented story, idea, or concept: His account of the event is pure myth.
4. an imaginary or fictitious thing or person.
5. an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution."


When someone believes the stories it becomes a religion. Thanks to Reconstructionists, New Agers, and Neo-pagans, Old Mythologies are once again becoming religions.

Every religion has "Mythology" as a part of it.

But because our society Assumes a Myth to be untrue/false/a lie, people shy away from calling their stories Myths.

Answer 5

Taking the academic definition mythology is ancient stories concerning history and origins (it makes no assumption of true or false) so it becomes mythology when it becomes ancient. Usually after the end of that era or once they are considered popularly as out moded and not part of the current times.

Answer 6

I read that the average religion lasts about 3000 years.
They usually last until a new, more attractive one turns up.
My guess would be that the new one is more in tune with the cultural norms of society at the time.
Societies do change, although quite slowly. Religions can't because they are supposed to deal with universal, unchanging truths.
I think the fact they all reach a "sell by" date rather underlines the fact that men made God, not the other way round.

Answer 7

Many currently recognize religion as a myth. In the not too distant future, most likely people will look back and wonder how people of our day could actually have believed in such nonsense.

Answer 8

Technically speaking, all religious stories are mythology. The ressurection of Christ is part of Christian mythology. The word doesn't technically imply that the story is true or untrue, although that has become a common usage of the word in the English language.

Answer 9

and yet there are still Greek and Norse Pagans
it is only a myth to those who dont believe

edit
I find it quite insulting to those who are Pagan , to have their beliefs classified as myth , while other religions are studied as theology

edit again
good point Chippy
it may be that those who are Pagan accept the mythologic/symbolic aspects of their beliefs

Answer 10

When a plant becomes a weed.
Actually, I like myths. They are meant to teach us important lesson. They talk in pictures. Who can argue about pictures? Everyone can argue about religion.

Answer 11

Inception