[Tega1]

Are religion and mythology similar?



Definition of religion:- The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, esp. a personal God or gods


Definition of mythology:-A collection of myths, esp. one belonging to a particular religious or cultural tradition

[Lachesis]

Well, they're very closely tied through world creation mythos, etc. It's hard to think of any major religion without a founding mythology. Maybe some newer new age thought or life philosophy might be without a mythology.

I.e., mythologies are usually a part of religions. That's at least my view on it. I'm sure there's a million other angles on this subject.

[xIrony]

Yes, both are usually dominated by Jungian archetypes in some form. Also, a religion is an overlying group of beliefs that people follow, while a mythology can either be stand-alone or part of a religion, a collection of religious stories for example.

There is a definite link there, as both should serve the same purpose. Both tell stories with lessons integrated in them (or they should) to help a human being progress, and those stories (usually on accident) contain Jungian archetypes that we all share sight of through the collective unconcious so we can all understand the stories, as they are fundamentally human in nature.

[telepariah]

"Mythology may, in a real sense, be defined as other people's religion. And religion may, in a real sense, be understood as a popular misunderstanding of mythology."

Joseph Campbell
Thou Art That

[Femmefatale]

The difference between religion and mythology... hmm...

Mythology doesn't have 1 book.
Mythology is several religions that is connected to each other.
Could probably come up with much more... but I'm a tad worn out.

I prefer mythology though. Less judgemental XD

[Narcissist]

Yes . They are closely linked . The judeo-christian concept of God as the great old man with a white beard sitting on top of the heavens is derived from Greek mythology.

[Tread Softly]

Mythology is a collection of myths. That's the most basic definition of it.
And, according to its definition, myths are:
3. any invented story, idea, or concept: His account of the event is pure myth.
4. an imaginary or fictitious thing or person.
5. an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution.

Religion, I believe, represents a Truth. It is not an invented story, idea, or concept. The above definition of myths and any definition of religion that relates it to mythology is biased, making the assumption that religion is thus invented or false.

Therefore, it would be best if an entirely objective definition of religion is taken (ie. "Being a set of beliefs as communicated through holy scripts, prophecies, etc").

To say that yes, all religions are based on mythology merely shows opinion. However, I believe that to state that all religions and religious practises are based on mythology is untrue. Although clearly some practises that some attribute to a religion predate that religion and/or are based on culture, that doesn't represent religion as a whole.

[Sily]

Just IMHO - religion is mythology.