Difference between revisions of "The Second Purpose of a Myth"
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The second purpose of a myth is to justify an existing social system and account for its rites and customs. | The second purpose of a myth is to justify an existing social system and account for its rites and customs. | ||
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| − | + | In many ancient societies, rulers and/or the ruling class got the power or right to rule because they either were gods, were the children of gods, or the gods said they should rule. For example, in ancient Egypt the Pharaoh was said to be a god incarnate, and he ruled because it was his divine right to do so. The idea of a social system where one class is "created to rule" by divine power stabilizes a civilization's central government and helps present dissent and uprisings. | |
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| + | In other civilizations, rigid and unequal social structure was justified with the idea of an afterlife or spiritual rewards for those who follow the morality system of that culture. A good example of this is the Hindu caste system. This system consists of five social classes (From highest to lowest: Brahmin-priests, Kshatriya-warriors, kings, and princes, Vaishya-merchants , farmers, and artisans, Shudra-servants and laborers, and Harijan-outcasts) that are assigned by birth. Hindu mythology justifies this by saying that those in higher castes have less "spiritual pollution" and are better than lower classes. It also says that if you are a good person you will be reincarnated into a higher caste, so the system is no longer seen as unfair in any way because your caste is your own fault. | ||
Sources: | Sources: | ||
CS&PS: Hinduism and Early Indian Society, p. 12 | CS&PS: Hinduism and Early Indian Society, p. 12 | ||
Manual: Neolithic Revolution, p. 38 | Manual: Neolithic Revolution, p. 38 | ||
Revision as of 21:18, 18 October 2011
The second purpose of a myth is to justify an existing social system and account for its rites and customs.
In many ancient societies, rulers and/or the ruling class got the power or right to rule because they either were gods, were the children of gods, or the gods said they should rule. For example, in ancient Egypt the Pharaoh was said to be a god incarnate, and he ruled because it was his divine right to do so. The idea of a social system where one class is "created to rule" by divine power stabilizes a civilization's central government and helps present dissent and uprisings.
In other civilizations, rigid and unequal social structure was justified with the idea of an afterlife or spiritual rewards for those who follow the morality system of that culture. A good example of this is the Hindu caste system. This system consists of five social classes (From highest to lowest: Brahmin-priests, Kshatriya-warriors, kings, and princes, Vaishya-merchants , farmers, and artisans, Shudra-servants and laborers, and Harijan-outcasts) that are assigned by birth. Hindu mythology justifies this by saying that those in higher castes have less "spiritual pollution" and are better than lower classes. It also says that if you are a good person you will be reincarnated into a higher caste, so the system is no longer seen as unfair in any way because your caste is your own fault.
Sources: CS&PS: Hinduism and Early Indian Society, p. 12 Manual: Neolithic Revolution, p. 38
