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                                    %MYTH AND POWER 731101

     Myths  embody the states of consciousness from  which
people approach reality.   The apparent nature of  reality
depends  critically  upon the mythological context  within
which  reality is perceived.    The  mythological  context
outlines the possible sources of hope and meaning in life,
and  interprets  the  significances  of  various  ways  of
dealing  with finitude and related problems.   These  ways
find their incarnations in persons who  have the power  to
fulfill  their potentialities.  Each in  his own way works
within  mythological  contexts to deal with  problems  and
dilemmas  of  which  he  or she is aware.  The  nature  of
reality and the ways to cope within it arise  from  within
the mythological context.

     The  stories  which we call myths were the  means  of
sharing  the  mythological  context  which  were  used  by
effective  participants in the mythological context.   The
stories were means of pointing to realities  as  perceived
from  within the mythological context.  The child within a
society,  by  participating  in the stories---entered  the
mythological context.   To the child the stories were what
created the  mythological context in terms  of  which  the
nature of reality was understood.  The myths led the child
to enter into the state of consciousness from within which
the  child  the child viewed reality.  Therein  lay  their
power.

     A  myth has relatively little power over the lives of
those who have analyzed it.   The story may be interesting
and related to other interesting stories.  Yet the reality
to which  it  pointed may be totally  absent  and  without
power  to  those who have analyzed it.  A  myth  has power
only over those who tell and listen with conviction.    To
them  it offers power to find hope and meaning in life and
death.  Those who participate in no myths and analyze  all
myths---find little hope and meaning in life.  There are--
-essential uncertainties in real lives.

     Modern myths  point  to  the  power  of:   democracy,
manifest destiny,  capitalism,  industrialism,  scientific
analysis,   military   weapons,    education,    highways,
computers, research, new compounds, automation, protecting
individual  rights,   bureaucratic   action,   techniques,
objectivity,  skepticism, etc.   Through such myths modern
men  and  women find the motivation to  live their   daily
lives.   Because  there  is   a   modern fragmentation  of
mythological   contexts---there   is   fragmentation   the
technocratic society.
                         (c) 1999 by Paul A. Smith in
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