RELIGION (6) - Is anybody there? (3)

MYTHS are stories important for a group of people and for a religion. 

The collection of myths is called Mythology. In archaic times myths were considered the calling of the spiritual world.

The human answers to myths are CULTS. For instance, the myth of the resurrection is followed by the feast of the unleavened bread, as a rite, as a cult. We can say that a group of people has a culture, if they deeply live their myths and cults. On the other hand there is only barbarity, where people consider myths and cults as fables. Cults accompany man throughout his life. Their function is, first of all, to reinforce individual and social identities. 

Usually, there are 4 main stages in human life: birth, maturity – end of the childhood, marriage – establishing one's own family, death. All of them have their own cults. For instance, a boy to be considered adult man needs to meet requirements, such as being able to look after his family, self-control, ability to endure spiritual and mental shocks, and to keep quiet. In our days, however, there is no interest in myths; cults disappeared, traditions fading away. It is difficult to reach adulthood in such a well-organized kindergarten as our society – as said by an American sociologist. Therefore, there is growing need for mental and spiritual support, usually to be found within closed small communities. These communities tell you what to believe in and how to live. Polytheist pagan cults demanded their followers to live the fullness of life, including all hidden and extreme opportunities. 

In the MYSTERY everybody actively participated and the goal was an altered state of mind and going beyond the limits of civil life. Thus, this belief sometimes resulted in orgies or ritual killings. Later, the Judeo-Christian monotheist religious ethics prohibited living the extremities of life, the core category becoming compunction and remorse. 

Polytheist believers eased their remorse caused by upsetting one of the deities by praying for another for defence. In contrast, monotheism is characterized by totalitarianism. God is Almighty and Omniscient and therefore cannot be misled or deceived, God looks into the hearts. Remuneration and punishment are at his discretion. Core categories are: sin, compunction, atonement, purification or catharsis, salvation, redemption and damnation.