MYTH

MYTH
   a myth is a type of narrative which seeks to express in imaginative FORM a BELIEF about man, the world, and/or GOD or GODS which cannot adequately be expressed in simply PROPOSITIONS. Since this word is used in both contemporary scientific and theological literature, any DEFINITION of it appears to be arbitrary. In common language, the word is used to denote stories that have no basis in FACT. This meaning is too loose for anthropologists and philosophers. Myths can be contrasted with LEGENDS, fairy tales, etc. This implies no JUDGMENT on the TRUTH of the story; indeed, it is possible to have a true story serve as a myth. Critics of myth argue that it tends to open the door to IRRATIONALISM. Myth has been held to be a truer or deeper version of REALITY than SECULAR HISTORY, realistic description, or scientific explanation. This view ranges from irrationalism and post-CHRISTIAN supernaturalism to more sophisticated accounts in which myths are held to be fundamental expressions of certain properties of the human mind. Myth is both a very significant and difficult word. One very useful DEFINITION is a story with culturally formative power that functions to direct the life and thought of INDIVIDUALS and GROUPS or SOCIETIES.

Concise dictionary of Religion. 2012.

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  • myth — [mıθ] n [U and C] [Date: 1800 1900; : Greek; Origin: mythos story, speech, myth ] 1.) an idea or story that many people believe, but which is not true = ↑fallacy myth of ▪ the myth of male superiority myth that ▪ the myth that wisdom accompanies… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Myth — is derived from the Greek word μύθος mythos , which simply means story . Academic usageIn the academic fields of mythology, mythography, or folkloristics, a myth is a sacred story involving symbols that are usually capable of multiple meanings… …   Wikipedia

  • Myth — es una saga de videojuegos de estrategia, ambientada en la antigüedad, donde se hace presente una gran mitología, batallas contra seres sobrenaturales y mucha violencia. Títulos de la saga La saga consta de los siguientes títulos: Myth: The… …   Wikipedia Español

  • myth — [ mıθ ] noun ** 1. ) count an ancient traditional story about gods, HEROES, and magic: Greek myths and legends a ) uncount ancient traditional stories: the distinction between myth and history 2. ) count or uncount something that people wrongly… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Myth — (engl. für „Mythos“) steht für: Myth, eine Computerspielserie bestehend aus Myth: The Fallen Lords, Myth II: Soulblighter und Myth III: The Wolf s Age MythTV, eine freie Media Center Software MythBusters, eine Fernsehsendung des US amerikanischen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • MYTH — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Myth. Introduction Le groupe Myth est spécialisé dans le déplombage de jeux vidéos, au même titre que le groupe DEViANCE par exemple. On distingue plusieurs moyens opératoires : le GameRip (GTA III par… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Myth — (m[i^]th), n. [Written also {mythe}.] [Gr. my^qos myth, fable, tale, talk, speech: cf. F. mythe.] 1. A story of great but unknown age which originally embodied a belief regarding some fact or phenomenon of experience, and in which often the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • myth — (n.) 1830, from Fr. Mythe (1818) and directly from Mod.L. mythus, from Gk. mythos speech, thought, story, myth, anything delivered by word of mouth, of unknown origin. Myths are stories about divine beings, generally arranged in a coherent… …   Etymology dictionary

  • myth — 1 Myth, legend, saga all mean a story which has come down from the past, which ostensibly relates a historical event or events, and of which the origin has been lost or forgotten. Myth varies considerably in its denotation and connotation… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • myth|i|fy — «MIHTH uh fy», transitive verb, fied, fy|ing. to make mythical; build a myth around (a person, place, thing, or event) …   Useful english dictionary

  • myth|o|pe|ic — myth|o|poe|ic or myth|o|pe|ic «MIHTH uh PEE ihk», adjective. making myths; having to do with making myths …   Useful english dictionary

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