| Popis: |
The place of myth in our world, in our collective and individual lives, is the subject of this concluding segment. How do the myths of our religious traditions affect the way we see ourselves and others? Is there an essential conflict between myth and reality? Do myths function significantly in secular societies? How are universal mythic themes utilized by societies? As noted in this conclusion, the defining characteristic of human beings may well be the ability to conceive of plot (what Aristotle called mythos)—that is, of narratives with beginnings, middles, and ends. By extension, humans, unlike other animal species, think and act in relation to the past, the present, and the future. Myths reveal a human need to describe and explain the world in narratives. Behind these narratives are several universal human questions. Where did we come from? Did someone create us? Are we sometimes punished by that being? Why is there evil in the world? Do we have a way of breaking out of the limitations on our lives? |
