When a new religion becomes established, is the old religion it supplants relegated to "mythology"?

Great question, Jack.

The answer, imho, is more political than religious. Xianity was aligned with the political seats of power under Constantine, and has never really gotten out of the habit of empire. One "true" faith, with a love/hate relationship with Judaism, because of its origins, and an overweening belief that ALL previous faiths were "myth" and all newly encountered ones were "pagan" or "heathen" or "satanic."

For all that, the "myth" business didn't really get underway until about the 17th C, with the rediscovery of the classical Greco-Roman philosophers and all that had been buried under the weight of the Dark Ages . . .

For myself, I believe that the power of myth is something essential to human cultures, and have always been just a bit bemused by the xian claims that THEIR stories are not of like ilk . . . because that claim robs their texts of the power they *should* possess, and subjects them to the inevitable ridicule of educated minds who know they can't possibly be literally true. This is, I'm given to understand, a fairly recent and largely American aberration, and making the literal truth of their scriptures the "hill they die on" will, I believe, prove to be either their undoing, or something they eventually grow beyond.

The establishment of any religion is a part of "history".

History is written by the victors and/or the dominant majority.

However, Judaism was supplanted by Christianity yet both exist and Christains normally don't call Judaism mythology.

Islam supplanted both Christianity and Judaism, yet all three exist and though the Jews and the Christains deny the validity of the Holy Qur'and and Mohammad as a prophet, Islam accepts both them and their scriptures as "ahl al kitab" (people of the book), their spiritual brothers and sisters (at least in theroy if not in practice).

You are correct in that Christianity regulated the Norse, Greek, Roman, HIndu, Shinto, etc. beliefs to the catagory of myths.

You are also correct that to those who hold to and/or practice these faiths, their beliefs are every much as valid as Christianity.

For an intersting perspctive on this line of thought from the opposite view, learn about Japan, a "non-Christian" nation (with less than 2% of the populaton claiming to be Christian and even less claiming to be Muslim or Jewish). Buddhism and Shinto are the majority faiths and most persons in Japan believe that Christianity is mythology.

All things depend on how one chooses to view them.

May it all be well with you and this one thanks you for an original and thoughtful and thought provoking question.

I think it's a natural human tendency to believe that your own belief is right and the "true" belief and the only one that counts. Look at sports fans, for example. They love their team, it's the best team and they "hate" all the other teams. I think this tendency carries over into many areas of our lives.

That said, I try to take a different approach in my religious beliefs. Yes, I also think my belief is the right one and the true belief. However, I'm more flexible in that I think that all other religions/denominations cannot be all bad. Many even worship the same God. I think there is great wisdom in the statement that there is one God, but more than one path to that God. There are many decent, moral people in all religions and non-religions. God judges us by what's in our hearts, so He will look there when deciding our fate. Which path is truly the best path, I'll leave up to God.

I so do not know.

A Protestant once told me as a Catholic I was in the wrong religion and said she was sorry and would pray for me.

Also went on to say her religion was superior and that my being a good person and a believer wasn't enough, I had to be the "right" religion. I had no idea of the discredit of religion until that moment, I was floored.

In my researching Wicca/Pagan/Witchcraft I see alot of similar beliefs.

But, the Wiccan Rede and Threefold Law are so profound and nothing in Christian/Catholic faith asks me to be responsible for me something I think is so important.

Does this devalue Christianity? No. Not to me, I just have a different need in my spirituality and faith. I don't do religion for the basis of making myself better than you, I do it to make me a better me. As it should be.

Why would some one want that feeling of superior hatered in them in the first place?

I find it funny that I took a "Greek mythology" class, but it was actually a class about their religion.

I see their religion being just as valid as Christianity and any other religion today. Though I see them all as equally ridiculous...

I don't understand how a religion believing in a god (or gods) can look at these ancient religions as mythology and not see their own contradiction.

I guess I really just repeated your question to you, but was interested in it, so instead of answering, I just added...

Great question.

But faith is not the same as religion. Faith has to be based on something, or in something...like evidence...

So.... that being said,,,,

...I'm not one to "shove the Bible down someone's throat" because, quite frankly, I would not want someone else shoving the Koran (or any other document) down mine.

But I see a lot of parallels between my religion and MANY others, like ..

__one God who is above all other gods.

__a "messiah" or teacher who came to share God's love

__love over hate - tolerance over fear.

__similar historical references/stories

First, in short, my common sense tells me that, with SO MANY hundreds of various religions that share so much in common, there must have been a common source..a root...an ultimate and absolute truth..something real.

Second, I see creation around me and know (as do many Scientists, teachers, scholars,etc... ) that this "design" around us has too many checks,balances, and nuances to have been "accidentally" created...That this creation was "created" .....and that, if we as humans "admire" the stars at night, the beauty of a sunset, a shooting star, that these likes and desires must have been placed in us by something or someone, because they are not learned behavior...they are not instinct, and are not shared with any other animal.

Third, I add the facts that I know. What experiences have I had as a result of my belief? Have I experienced any miracles? Has my life changed? Historically, is there any record of Jesus' existance (other than the New Testament)? ...and contrary to another post I saw above, there are hundreds of documents that have recorded just that..that serves as "support for the case..evidence" if you will. I look at any other evidence I have OUTSIDE the Bible.

Forth, just as you said, I apply FAITH. Faith is simply believing in the things that you can't touch or see,but it's often based on the 3 things above (at least partially). I love my significant other, but I can't really prove it. That love is evidenced by my behavour, my actions, my life....and yes, sometimes just on my feelings.

There are a lot of religions out there that don't pass my "test"...those are the ones that I deem as "mythology"...or "just a good story"...

Is my version of my religion the right one? I don't know.

Am I right and everyone else is wrong? Probably not, but I don't know that either. .... but that's the beauty of faith... Someday, I'll know for sure!! I guess I hope that I'm not wrong just as I assume you hope that you're not wrong.

Thanks for reading, and good luck on your journey.

See. I’ve been trying to ask Christians this question all day long. But as I was attempting to wrap my questions in the guise of being tolerant, no one got it. Damn. Anyway…. Yes. As an anthropology student (and former Christian) it is all too clear to me that only the currently accepted set of beliefs is considered credible. I would like to know how long it takes exactly for one belief system to die out before it is relegated to the “mythology” pile. How long does it take for the new religion to be entrenched in society before it surpasses the old one and becomes the dogma of the day.

With some; they were raised in it. They learned the behavior and what to say.

For others it's pier pressure. They want to fit in and think that they will have friends.

Still, for others it's the power of the Holy Spirit. That is the one element to all of this that Atheists are missing. That the one an Atheist refers to as 'non existent' has been doing the work in those who trust Him.

I can't say the magic words to make people realize this. As hard as I try the words just don't sink in. I have this relationship with God, who is more important than I will ever be, and Atheists in particular don't understand it.

One thing that might be an interesting thing for you (which might be a non sequitur to this question) , is see what happens when you get into an in depth conversation about the Spirit of God with a Muslim. Just see what happens. I found that they squirm around and try to change the subject. Just tuck that away in case you discuss something with one.

So you are missing the relationship that Christians have with God through His Spirit. He is what changes us. He gives us understanding with the Bible. I think that is why you find us so inexplicably defiant to the suggestion that we are wrong about God's existence.

it's called self righteousness. the human mind wants to justify itself looking over its short coming and scape goating the short coming of others. intolerance and herd mental ideologies can justify any injustice done to anyone. when put in the corner it adjusts itself and incorporates its weakness into the strength of another. neo christendom is much like a vampire. i like your thinking and approach to this issue...

i have to add something i was tossing around days ago. society is just like a sea. underground currents. big fish that eat you and things that sting. learning to swim. seeing reality for what it is. we must have a broad look into the divine and undivine to survive. peace...

The main difference between superstition and religion, is that religion is superstitious beliefs supported by myths.