What do you think is the importance of myths in a culture?

A myth is a sacred narrative about the origins of the world and the things in the world, and therefore an integral part of a culture. A myth is believed to be true by the people (culture) from which it came because religious or spiritual significance is attached to it. When used in academia, the term is not meant to imply that the sacred narrative is either true or false. I'll never forget what one Anthropology professor said in a lecture: "One man's myth is another man's religion." The professor went on to explain that the use of the term outside of academica had taken on the implication that the religious narratives of a culture other than your own is considered mythology; therefore untrue; but that your own culture's sacred narratives would not be considered mythology, and therefore, true. Because of this usage (outside of academia) many people take offense when the religious narratives they believe to be true are called myths. But strictly speaking, a myth is simply the academic term used to describe the sacred narratives of a given culture. In academic circles, a myth is not to be confused with a legend or folktale.

Importance Of Myths

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What do you think is the importance of myths in a culture?

What is the difference of myth and religion? Are they a necessary and integral part of culture?

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For Starters, there is no "Maori" religion. Religion wasn't introduced to "Maori People" (Native race of New Zealand) until the Missionaries of Europe came to NZ shores, prior to that, Maori had many gods. To echo some of the sentiments of other posters, Stories/Myths were created (and back in the day believed), to give explanation of why things were the way they were. IE: Myth: The South Island being the Waka or Canoe of the Demi God Maui, Stewart Island being it's anchor and the North Island being the Giant Fish that Maui pulled from the depths of the ocean, and if you look close enough at the shape of the North Island it kinda looks like a Stingray or the basic shape of it at least. As for Maori "Religion"? Maori do have churches of their own, two most common are "The Ratana Church" (Founded by Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana) and "The Ringatu Church" (Founded by Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki), both were a adaptation of Christianity said and preached in a way that the Maori people could understand, the latter of the two mixing traditional customs into it's faith. Religion has nothing to do with Maori Myths, but very much to do with the Maori Culture. Myths tells of the history of it's people through colorful tales, the deeds or misdeeds of their ancestors and of who they are, and where they came from.

Myths justify a culture's activities. They define a specific culture's wealth in terms of collective mind possibilities.

Religion is, in my opinion, the development of a specific myth - the most 'in vogue' one at some point in history.

They are not only necessary, they are an indissoluble part of a nation/culture's identity.

For homeworks on this subject, see links.

http://www.mythsdreamssymbols.com/importanceofmyth...

Not so long ago myths were religion in ancient cultures. if you think about it, our religions today of one god may become a myth of the future. Yes they are necessary (myth religion) it shows who we are and who we were. Really, if you read myths, it shapes around what people went through in the past. As for Norse mythology they were in rugged harsh conditions so therefore so were their gods.

religion is an organization

centered around beliefs

associated with one or more

supernatural beings

myths are stories

about supernatural beings

allow me to speculate

upon their origins

i believe the myth

of the hero

is central to all storytelling

all humans are heroes

everyday we leave

the safety of our hearths

to venture forth

into the dangerous world

to win our daily bread

we started as hunters

then became farmers

then became laborers

now we are clerks

but it's still the same

out of the cave

in ancient times

out of the door these days

we contend with

a dangerous world

and struggle to bring

our winnings back home

like the hunter

with his catch

like the gatherer

with her pickings

like us in our day

with our paychecks

and once back

to the safety

of the hearthfire

the story of

the daily hunts

grows with each telling

until lions and tigers and bears

become griffins and dragons and trolls

it is our daily round

that is the basis

of mythology

so is myth

necessary and integral

to culture?

though animals too

follow this same

basic daily round

it is only man

who can relate

and expand upon

the particulars

so in my opinion

because only man

can mythologize

myth makes man human

beyond his animality

http://www.odysseusepicmythhero.com/

There is no importance. It doesn't affect anyone really.

Like the tooth fairy, its just something not to scare kids when there teeth are lose and need pulling out