Joseph Campbell (rituals, mysticism, tradition, contradiction, beliefs)

[tfp(-*-)]

Actually, mainstream and not just heretical Christianity and Judaism have traditionally interpreted the Bible symbolically as well as literally

The most elevated mythic symbol in the Bible would be God himself, according to Campbell. It's not so much a denial of symbolism on his part, rather that the Biblical symbols/myths are pointing to symbols falsely understood as literal truths, rather than pointing to the ultimate mystery itself.

[gnostic]

I have not read any of Campbell's books, because I have always been interested in reading the translation of primary sources on myths, not a person's analysis or comments.

I am quite sure his perspective on mythology is invaluable for our understanding on the subject, but I was far more interest in the tales, not the psycholanalysis, since such thing would spoil what I am trying to learn.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by gnostic

I have not read any of Campbell's books, because I have always been interested in reading the translation of primary sources on myths, not a person's analysis or comments.

I am quite sure his perspective on mythology is invaluable for our understanding on the subject, but I was far more interest in the tales, not the psycholanalysis, since such thing would spoil what I am trying to learn.

But then, according to some ways of thinking, you are not learning the myths at all, because what they mean is what they are. The literal reading, while providing entertaining-enough stories, misses the point.

[gnostic]

Critical analysis of mythology have there places, so someone like Campbell, Jung, Robert Graves and J.G. Frazer are important.

I have had Frazer's large book, The Golden Bough. The topics he touched was all every interesting, but the way he jumped one myth to another, oft leaves me more than just a little bewildered because of their varieties. Too much analysis would make mythology to lose their lustre.

Not everyone is interested in so much indepth psychoanalysis in a book, unless you are studying psychology.

Take history, for example. I loved classical and medieval history, but I am not that interested in studying in the classroom. If I need to study or do research, then I would prefer to pick and choose which ones I'd wish to study. Perhaps, it was just the teacher, but I quickly lost interest in what was taught in class. I learned far more on my own then in the classroom environment.

Not everyone is interested in Jungian and Campbell's analysis.