Consider: Why are myth and legend so important to society?

I agree that the answers here raise a lot of good points about myth. I think Joseph Campbell says it best really, and I highly recomend reading his books and watching his PBS special.

Myth addresses the deepest psychological needs and motivations of the human race and this is why myth is so similar throughout the world. The story in a particular myth addresses themes that are part of the common needs of all human beings and thus reflect the experience of all human beings across a large segment of time and the planet.

Because of this myths contain a strong wisdom that comes from the communal experience of humanity across thousands of years.

They speak to our common need, our shared dreams, our desires, motivations and the actions that stem from them.

Importance Of Myths In Society

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How is this difficult? Oh, I see. Since Judaism began in the Middle East, why is it considered Western? It was adopted by Western Society and most of its Believers are actually in the West. Western Religions: They are based on the same resources. The are both derived from Abraham. Judaism Islam Christianity Eastern: Hinduism Confucianism is not a religion but a theory of social structure. Taoists, Buddhists, Chinese Traditional Religions, and Hindus have all used elements of Confucianism. It is classified as a religion but it is more of a belief system or philosophical system of social structure and behavior. Buddhism falls into this same side category. It is also eastern but not exactly a religion. It is mixed with many religions but it is really an exploration into the mind of man. Buddhists tend to hold the belief that faith or belief in a god will actually hinder practice. At the same time they hold that divine Buddhas exist on other planes. Believing in these Buddhas is not necessary, it is the teachings that are important and one's own growth. Much of the Buddhist's myths and legends including the birth of Buddha himself from the side of his mother, are largely viewed as mythology and not dogmatic reality. There are elements of religion in the Buddhist practice, but it is more a a search for enlightenment than it is a "worship this god," sort of thing.

Please give me best answer, because it is a question that has me concerned for over a decade.

I was a Media teacher.

One day a class of not very academic students had woorked well so I said we could do a nice easy drama, namely a Nursery rhyme or fairy tale. To my horror hardly any students knew their tales and rhymes.

I tried this with different classes and got other teachers to do it too;

Definte result

The MORE academically capable children knew their tales and rhymes.

The less academically children did not know their tales and rhymes

This was PARTICULARLY true of aboriginal students. Australian aboriginal students who knew their 'Dream-time' stories were MUCH much cleverer in all ways.

Since I have read and studied tales and legends from around the world

Following conclusion

Tales from a particular area have common theme

This theme explains cultural norm

Examples

European tales - for boys -be good, work HARD, you'll get the princess and live happy ever after. For girls - be beautiful, love a man and happy ever after.

Asian tales (epecially Japan) dis-obey adults die painfully; OBEY adults get all you want

Australian aboriginals - help tribe and good life or get rewarded by being turned into stars or nice animal. Harm the tribe and get turned into rock or nasty animal.

Teachers I talk to say it might be important to cancel all other education and just stress tales and legends etc.

Aboriginal leaders, I have spoken to say the reason so many dark skinned raced teenagers all over the world mis-behave is because they have no 'Roots to a culture' Tales etc would give them these 'roots'

To me a VERY Vital question. But what can we do.

I agree with what most people have said. It teaches kids values and it explains things that we cannot understand. I also think that we hold on to these myths and legends because, no matter how fictional they are, there is a little bit of truth to them. It could be in the culture or maybe some of the events actully happened, but something about it tells us about our past, and it's a way to connect to them.

There are so many different things about legends and myths. some like the greeks', are used to explain thing we don't know. others have more truth them you think. then there those that keep the little kids from running away from home and getting killed by some street killer. I can go on and on. lol we need to take a closer look at some because like said by Nunu-, there can be more truth in them then we think (maybe the dragon or maybe dolphins and there loveliness?) and last but not lest, they are some of what has us living here today think of that.

We are all dreamers to a certain extent. we also like the cautionary tale and use myths and legends as tales of morality and expected behavior. But, I think, most of all, we are a pack animal and like nothing more than sitting around telling each other stories and entertaining each other.

xxR

They teach us valuable lessons. For example, the myth of Hercules and the Hydra. How do you destroy a monster with many heads, such as modern Islamic terrorists? Every time you cut another 'head' off, or wipe out one radical imam, another takes his place. So cutting heads off doesn't work. You need to cut the tail off. I'll leave it to you to figure out what that means. I have my own ideas.

it reflects the culture of the people where these myths and legends come from. it is used by adults to teach kids values.

these religions are spread out all over the world. Typically, Islam is in the middle east but its heavy in Europe. Christianity is everywhere, America, Europe, Russia. Hinduism and Buddhism are prevalent in India. Judaism is spread out everywhere, and Confucianism is in China. There really is no distinctive east or west.