How do myths start? Why do they continue and even grow?
What's your favourite myth, whether classical or recent?
How do myths start? Why do they continue and even grow?
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1- If, for the purposes of this question we could dismiss the definition of myth as “a widely held but false belief or idea” for fear of offending anyone and use the alternative definition of myth as “a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining a natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events” then top of the list of myths has to be the one which says that people had at one time living among them a person who was fully man and fully God both at the same time. Fully of course means 100%. This is the world’s biggest myth in terms of the sheer numbers believing in it and the longest lasting one.
2- How do myths start? This one has its origins in the Jews expecting the appearance of a man who would unite them and free them from the tyranny of man-made [Roman] laws. Jesus of Nazareth who lived two thousand years ago was believed by many Jews to be this awaited man. After his departure from earth many conflicting stories started circulating about the nature of the man. To remove squabbling among their subjects the Romans convened what is now known as the council of Nicaea in the year 325 CE. It was here that the so called Nicene Creed was thrashed out requiring Christians to believe in Jesus as “the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father...”
3- Why do they continue and even grow? That Jesus was who the Roman Catholic Church said who he was became official church doctrine of the official and only religion allowed. Anyone who deviated from the doctrine was a heretic and had to recant or face punishment which could be death. There was also the scriptural appeal of God’s sacrifice and promise of everlasting life in scripture itself which at John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”