As we listen to the different myths from cultures all around
the world, we can’t help but notice a pattern. Similar ideas repeated again and
again, ideas that go beyond culture or geological boundaries. In light of these
similarities we can’t help but wonder why are these myths so similar? What caused
them to have so many parallel themes? I would like to share with you one theory
that I have found somewhat plausible.
John Hick is a well-received philosopher of religion and in
his book ‘An Interpretation of Religion: Human Responses to the Transcendent’
he tries to give an explanation of why we have so many different religions
(myths). Hick argues that there is a ‘divine’ being, but Hick insists that this
divine being is not separate from the world nor is it one with the world; it is
neither monotheistic nor polytheistic. This divine thing is something completely
different from all of our understandings of divinity. Hick proposes that
humanity has come into contact with this divine thing throughout history, the
differences in religion (myth) arise because of the peoples different cultural
past.
To Hick if this divine thing makes contact with a group of
people, the way they understand or interoperate this contact is largely
depended on their culture. Even though all the people are coming into contact
with the same thing, because they have different cultural pasts, they understand
or explain the divine differently. According to Hick, every myth is equally
right, and equally wrong. This is why so many myths have comparable elements;
they are similar because they stem from the same divine thing, the discrepancies
arise from the different cultural encounters with the divine thing.
While I personally think that this theory does have some crucial
flaws, it still does seem to be a reasonable explanation of the facts. What do
you think? What best explains why myths are so similar?
I think it is a possible explanation of the facts, but to propose the 'thing' of which Hick describes as 'divine' may be jaded (Not to say I necessarily disagree, but to be objective...). I think describing mythical similarities as being present due to something all of humanity across time and culture 'has come into contact with' might be less accurate than saying the similarities are stories all cultures inevitably arrive at. There are layers and facets to our species that are common; we feel the same emotions, suffer the same vices, and burn with the same desires. It's no wonder, then, that not only do all stories across the globe resonate with these elements at their heart, but also that the stories themselves often rise into parallels and repetitions that could seem magical or divine. I think the 'divine thing' Hick proposes we come into contact with is actually a common place within the twisting caverns and peaks and forests of our own chests we each charter to with under our own power.
ReplyDeleteTo simplify it— Perhaps stories are similar because we as a species are similar, not because of any unifying deity or presence that makes us so.