The unity of all myth and religion, and Joseph Campbell (creation, America)

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by Willamena

The quote that immediate follows the one I made above is: "Joseph Campbell’s scholarship ruled out dispersion from a common source." Perhaps his opinion changed.

I don't know, Patty, I could be wrong. Yet, having read several of his books, I've gotten the impression Campbell wrote about the dispersion of myths.

[PureX]

Originally Posted by Willamena

I came across this sermon today, by Mark Bernstein of the UU church. In it, he discusses his own and Campbell's insights into meaning that is common across all religious symbolism. I thought it might be of interest to some here at RF.

http://www.usguu.org/documents/Josep...ermon_copy.pdf

"Only two things could explain the commonalities: dispersion from a single source, or independent creation by diverse peoples emerging from common human experience, emanating from the same human psyche, which is in fact connected with a transcendent reality."

There was a third choice: "independent creation by diverse peoples emerging from common human experience". And this is the most likely solution. The "connection" is not to a transcendent reality, but simply to each other through the similarity of our forms.

[Escéptico]

Originally Posted by PureX

The "connection" is not to a transcendent reality, but simply to each other through the similarity of our forms.

Good point. We're all wired for essentially the same existence our not-so-distant ancestors lived on the savannah. It's not surprising that diverse human cultures arrived at some interestingly similar mythological forms, and it hardly argues for the existence of some mystical collective unconscious.

[Troublemane]

Originally Posted by stephenw

Sure,
Religion for me is my search for an understanding of my own existence, my will to meaning.

Great dude! I love that term "Will to Meaning"! Nietzsche would approve!

[stephenw]

Originally Posted by Troublemane

Great dude! I love that term "Will to Meaning"! Nietzsche would approve!

The term is from Viktor Frankl, I agree it's a great one.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by PureX

There was a third choice: "independent creation by diverse peoples emerging from common human experience". And this is the most likely solution. The "connection" is not to a transcendent reality, but simply to each other through the similarity of our forms.

I see that as the second choice. The "transcendent reality" need only be an interpretation of a part of us.

[Runt]

Originally Posted by stephenw

The term is from Viktor Frankl, I agree it's a great one.

Now THERE's a man who had something worthwhile to say about religion and spirituality!

[stephenw]

Originally Posted by Runt

Now THERE's a man who had something worthwhile to say about religion and spirituality!

I couldn't agree more