Mythology's role in teaching moral values and cultural understanding

¶ … mythology is important for both individualistic and collective reasons. On an individual level, mythology could teach moral or human truths, whereas on a collective level mythology could be used to keep people in touch with their origins. Mythological stories could then be used to teach children values such as hard work, diligence and obedience. Role models are created through mythological figures. Also, the mythology of different cultures can serve to teach the student about the values of that culture. This is particularly important in the world today, since advancing technology and phenomena such as globalization has brought foreign cultures much more frequently in touch with each other than was previously the case. It is therefore important to study mythology for the values that it can teach both children and adults, and also for understanding the heritage inherent in these stories.

Defining Mythology

Mythology derives from the complexity of the human mind and experience. The concept of mythology then is somewhat difficult to pin down. For the purpose of this writing then the concept as a whole is divided into two parts: the ancient and the modern.

Ancient mythology includes stories created during ancient times in order to establish the moral and psychological bases from which society today still operates. Modern mythology includes not only the works of art deriving from ancient mythology, but also those works that serve the same purpose.

Many purposes can be served by mythology. One of these is to derive meaning from life and its occurrences. Mythology can also be used to teach the values and ethics inherent in a specific society and culture, as well as the values of a specific religion. It will be seen that many of these purposes are served not only by ancient mythology, but also modern stories and films. The reasons for studying mythology can then include the purpose of finding the underlying meanings and paradigms of human existence.

The Lessons of Mythology

Children can be taught morality through mythology. This is a positive reinforcement of values that parents wish to teach their children. The Three Little Pigs, for example, hold lessons of hard work and diligence through which more is accomplished than frivolity and fun. Little Red Riding Hood disobeyed her mother's orders, and caused trouble both for herself and her grandmother. This story also holds the lesson of not talking to strangers. Sleeping Beauty, as many children, was unable to resist the temptation of a hidden spinning wheel when being warned against a prick on her finger. She was disobedient as a result of her curiosity.

An interesting element in these children's myths is the fact that the outcome is always good. The little pigs all survive and the wolf dies. Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother are saved and the wolf is killed, and Sleeping Beauty is woken up by her prince. This element in itself is worth studying. Several reasons could be investigated for this optimism in children's mythological stories. The obvious reason is the idea that children need protection from the harsh realities of a world where things indeed do go wrong, and often. Other reasons could include reinforcement. By providing positive outcomes for these stories, the children are allowed to learn something, and the ideals of obedience, hard work and not talking to strangers are reinforced, while the little characters receive the opportunity to do better in the future. The reinforcement of the lesson then involves that disobedience leads to problems, while having learned the lesson leads to solutions.

Mythology as a Cultural Paradigm

Mythology can be studied to learn about cultures other than one's own. It is in mythological stories that the important values and morals of a particular culture. These myths are used to teach cultural values to children, and to keep adults connected to their cultural heritage. They are therefore a useful tool for gaining knowledge about the heart of a culture. Indeed, the mythological heroes Achilles and Hector are used to teach the value of learning about culture through myth. Both read myth for recreational purposes, and also to understand the cultures from which they emanate.

Another important aspect of studying myth is for the purpose of understanding one's own culture. Ancient mythology for example includes the values from which modern culture has grown. This is a valuable study of the roots of the systems in our culture today. Greek mythology for example has a great influence on the western paradigm. Homer's Iliad and Odyssey for example influenced Greek cultural values relating to valor love and the struggle between good and evil. Some of the paradigms delineated in these works still influence the western world today.

A study of mythology furthermore enriches the reader with knowledge of the above paradigms, and the artistic influences that also stem from mythology. The names of the planets is an example of such knowledge, as well as works of art such as "Leda and the Swan," which can be enjoyed to a greater degree with the background knowledge of the myth that influenced the poem. Keats' "Endymion" is another example of such influence. This myth addresses the human fear of death, and the fantasy of eternal youth. The young shepherd pays the price of having to spend his life in eternal slumber, but at least he will never die. The more modern, dark myth of the vampire is a perpetuation of this idea. Vampires live eternally, but they are not part of humanity, and they pay the price of having to avoid sunlight and many other dangers.

Mythology is also created by modern writers. Indeed, the concept of "myth-making" has been studied in depth in genres such as fantasy and horror literature. This has also been a prominent part of recent films such as "Harry Potter," "Lord of the Rings" and even "Star Wars." These modern "myths" then serve not only to entertain, but also to delineate values such as honor, justice and loyalty that modern people hold in high regard. An interesting point of study could be a comparison between ancient and modern mythology. A comparison between mythologies from different cultures could also yield interesting results.

Mythology and Conflict

An interesting element in mythology is internal and external conflict, and the resolution of these. Children's mythological stories, as seen above, does include conflict, but the resolution is always easy and simple, without any permanent consequences beyond the moral lessons to be learned. More sophisticated mythology on the other hand often includes significant conflicts and losses for the good side. In order to deal with conflicts between opposing parties, mythological stories are often used as guidelines for the right way to do this.

The myth of justice for example is particularly prevalent in the stories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Roundtable. The judge assumes the role of fairness, symbolized by the black robe, and delivers justice from his bench. The criteria for being a judge are thoughtfulness and compassion, with the ability to make the right decision for all involved. The same criteria are inherent in the legal system of western society.

Indeed, it is expected that the law exists to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens, and that judges will fulfill this expectation. This is one of the cases where the direct cultural impact of mythology can be seen. This also has repercussions in the myth-making practices seen on television. The legal system, as based upon the myth of King Arthur, can be seen in several television shows, including "Judging Amy." The ethics and values practiced by the judge are based within the legal system, and within the systems created centuries ago by the King Arthur myth.

The comparison and study of these stories are useful in understanding the roots of the legal system, as well as the cultural values inherent in them.

Mythology as Religion

The largest part that mythology plays in the study of human values is probably in religion. This is also the area of study where the most information relating to cultural values can be investigated.

Christian values are for example explained through the stories of the Bible. Children are told these stories in order to teach them the values of this particular religion, while the adult faithful use the stories in order to guide the values they adhere to in life. This again is universally true among the religions. Each religion has a variety of mythological stories in order to help its adherents understand and live according to the values required by the religion.

Also inherent in the need for religious mythology is the human fear of death and wish for eternal life. Each religion promises perpetuity in some form; either as an afterlife or a succession of earthly lives by means of reincarnation. Thus, figures such as Jesus and Shiva then act as the heroes of religious mythology. They are the heroes that human beings strive to imitate, and whose lives are desired by those reading their stories.

The study of religious myth can be useful for the same reasons as the study of mythology in general. Firstly, studying religious myths from several cultures help to understand the fundamental moral values held dear by that culture. Furthermore the age of these stories help to understand and explain cultures from the time during which the stories were written. Studying religious myths from one's own culture again helps to understand and explain life according to one's own cultural paradigm. This also serves to strengthen the cultural bonds that one needs in order to connect socially. Personal growth issues are also touched upon when studying religious mythology as opposed to mythology from other sources.

Religion is also an area of life, like law, that has been the subject of modern myth-making. The television drama "Joan of Arcadia" is an example of this. The myth of Joan of Arc has been modernized to depict the life of a young girl who finds herself in conversation with God. The setting is modernized, with problems experienced by modern people in areas of family, work and school. Joan's conversations with God then help her to understand and explain life to herself, as they do the audience.

Another prominent work of art is the film "The Passion of the Christ," directed by Mel Gibson. By depicting the suffering of the great religious figure, audiences are reconnected with the fundamental truths of the origins of Christianity.

It is furthermore interesting to also consider the mythology of the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians, whose pagan myths are still the subject of discussion and study. These myths derive from polytheistic cultures, where the religious system is much different from the most prevalent religions of our time. Yet the value that can be derived from studying these myths includes knowledge regarding many of the elements that survive from ancient times. The days of the week for example, as well as the names of the planets, derive from these traditions. Natural cycles and phenomena yet unexplained by science were described and explained by mythological stories. And of course these myths also provide valuable material for study in terms of their aesthetic value.

The study and comparison of religious mythology then not only provides an understanding of the human truths as understood by certain cultures, but also to create new myths in order to understand life as it currently exists. Indeed, religious mythology is all the more complex in that it not only includes a variety of stories, but also stories within the myth itself. The parables of Jesus is an example of this. These parables have been the subject of many religious studies. This in itself shows the importance of studying these stories.

Conclusion

The main reason for studying mythology is that it is very much embedded in human consciousness, to such an extent in fact that often we are hardly aware of it. Mythology holds the keys to what it is to be human. The values and ethics close to the human heart, as well as human hopes and dreams, are all explained in symbolic form by myths.

Mythology is also a very useful teaching tool. A child for example finds stories more interesting than lectures. When a child hears a story that he or she can identify and sympathize with, it is much easier to learn the particular values embedded in such a story. This is what makes these stories such effective tools.

Most importantly perhaps, the process of globalization and the growth of technology has put people of different cultures much more closely into contact with each other. The mythology of these cultures can then be studied in order to become aware of the beauty inherent in each culture, as well as the values held dear by these cultures. In this way then misunderstandings can be minimized and even eliminated when the different cultures meet.

The study of mythology is as vitally important as the study of science, language, psychology, or any other academic discipline. The usefulness of such study is balanced by the aesthetic value that can be derived from the study of mythology. Each mythological story has its own beauty, while also teaching its own lesson. A study of mythology brings people closer together in a spirit of understanding. It also helps to create new myths in order to understand the world and life as experienced from a variety of different viewpoint.