Myth and meaning

Myth is one of the known mechanisms to equip human with meaning, without providing abstract and conceptual schemes. The mythic mind talks about life by simply painting what life looks like in numerous situations. For instance, direction for a mythic mind is provided by landmarks and not abstract longitude & latitude in GPS. Hence, no thematic or conceptual summary of myth is possible, and the proper question to ask of a myth is not “what does it mean?” but “what does happen next and how does it end?” just like films.

Myth has sacred roots, which is ontologically different from the basis of our current profane world. Sacred is the reality that does not belong to our world and it is revealed and manifested in the objects and events of the world. Therefore what we see is what we see and at the same time, manifestation of something else. Consequently, any object can represent something else like bread and wine, which can represent body and blood of Christ. Sacred realm is universal and eternal, impersonal, timeless, transcendent, old and typical. On the other hand, the profane world is particular, personal, time bounded, changing, new and creative. Since sacred is something fixed and enduring in the midst of universal flux and ever-changing world, the reality of day-to-day life becomes secondary to the eternal and stable reality of the sacred.

Questions such as what makes life worthwhile cannot be asked while one lives mythically. The abstract questions of meaning never arises inside the myth and just a compelling story is narrated which is neither an allegory nor a philosophy, but an identification. The fundamental function of myth is identification and having meaningful or deep actions is not important. The identification happens regularly even in the modern life. For instance identifying with a hero, a magician, a warrior or a scholar mythic character is so common. Christians also are admonished to just imitate Christ and not analyze the facts.

Hence myth provides meaning but not by offering abstract explanations. It narrates stories with sacred essence and mythical minds, which have faith and emotional bond with mythic characters, identify themselves with the myth and become part of the story.