Religious Studies 1022A/B Lecture 6: Religion as 'Myth'

• School: Western University
• Department: Religious Studies
• Course: Religious Studies 1022A/B
• Professor: Corinne Walsh

Document Summary

Shared beliefs that are simply false (e. g. , beauty myth") Apparently fictional stories that explain origins (e. g. , creation stories, stork", first humans, etc. ) A narrative apparatus-network that legitimizes and communicates social and cultural identity. A class of social argumentation found in all cultures and ordinary (mccutcheon) For the purpose of our study, when we speak of religion as myth", we do not mean that religion or belief in ultimate reality/god/divinity is false. Rather, use of the term myth" gives us a common basis to explore religion as an organized understanding of the sacred stories, narratives and beliefs of a community regarding ultimate reality. Encounter with the divine (theophany), explaining an emotional experience. Freudian resolving anxiety and suppressing the id. Expression of the collective unconscious (jung and campbell) Myth enables human communities to engage in debate or discussions. Myth enables human communities to engage in debate or discussions over questions that affect them on a regular basis.