Lesson 9 ~ Religious Philosophy

Religious Philosophy

Lesson 9 ~ Religious Expressions

By:  Rev. Trent

 

Consider your own religious path. What stories are told that serve to enlighten and educate? In other words, what stories are mythical? How about the mythical Santa Clause living at the North Pole.  This is a fable expounded upon here in the United States.  However in Europe there actually was a St. Nicholas that did go around with presents for children.  We here in the states presented this as a myth.  The Easter Bunny….St. Valentine's Day….are other mythical stories.   

Are any of these myths thought to be actual historical events? Is that important? Would it matter if it was proven that they didn't really happen? No I don't think it would really matter if they were proven not to have happened because these myths or stories are usually meant for the younger kids in the community.  Yes, I do believe these stories are beneficial because sometimes these myths can also be a learning tool and mostly they are very mild unlike "Urban Legends".     

Can you think of a non-religious myth? Perhaps political, or economic, or ethnic. What is the telling of this myth trying to convey?   The myth I would like to convey is from the Urban Legends….Stranger In The House….Where the baby sitter is in the house late at night alone and she receives multiple calls on the phone.  When she answers it there is no one on the phone.  She starts to get frazzled….she calls 911…they trace the call from inside the house….they tell her to get out of the house…she tries to get to the baby sleeping upstairs, she ends up scared out of her mind.  This can be classified as truth or fake….myths are not only there to help us understand but to scare us into conjuring up illusions within our minds. 

 Go In Peace