Reply #20: I think myth has outlived it's usefulness. [View All]

[ozone_man]

Of course, what constitutes myth can have various definitions. I think in general, we need to teach critical thinking to survive past the next century. The threat of religious war and harm to the environment are two areas that critical thinking must keep us from the brink of disaster. We're still fighting wars based on the ancient mythology of Abrahamic religions. We need to get beyond this stage of civilization. Regarding the environment, we need to think critically about impacts like global warming, pollution, over population, sustainable living, before we've destroyed nature and reduced the quality of life to very low levels.

I do think that humans have "spiritual" needs, but these needs can be built on rational foundations. We can live in harmony with the world, with nature, while fulfilling a wholesome, "spiritual" lifestyle. But there is no room for religious delusions that offer heaven and afterlife to believers instead of dealing with the reality and a sustainable existence on Earth. This may not mean complete destruction of all myths, but at the very least, myths need to stand up to the light of reason. For example, I think deep ecology or some other environmental based philosophy/science/life style is compatible with myths that may consider the Earth as a life force at the global level. Without making a deity out of the Earth, we can still show reverance to the Earth, hold it as sacred, maybe even allow room for myths. Any myths though need to exist side by side with reason. We can't go back to the age of mythology, before the age of reason.