Exploring the Role of Myths in Religious Language

Religious language as non-
cognitive and mythical:
Complex form of mythical language that communicates
values and insights into purpose of existence.
Supportive evidence 
– different forms of myths to convey
meaning: creation myths; myths of good against evil; heroic
myths. Myths help to overcome fears of the unknown;
myths effective way of transmitting religious, social and
ethical values.
Challenges:
 problem of competing myths; meanings of
myths change over time as they reflect the values of society
as societal constructs; demythologisation of myths results in
varying interpretations, myths often incompatible with
scientific understanding of the world
Religious language as 
non-cognitive
 
What does non-cognitive mean?
A view of religious language that argues that its
function is not to inform or contain factual
information
.
 
What are myths and metaphors?
 
Use symbols, metaphor and allegory
Story not true but explain truths
Stories in Old Testament
Metaphors convey meaning behind story
There are three senses in which a myth
could convey a religious truth – page 21
Read page 21, make notes under these
headings.
Myths can inspire faith and morality
Myths can provide a way for believers
to accept religion and science to
Myths open up new levels of
understanding
Recap complete tasks 23 and 24
Remember
Scholars
Examples from religious
language
Supporting evidence for the use of
mythical language
Different forms of myths to convey meaning:
creation myths;
myths of good against evil;
heroic myths.
Myths help to overcome fears of the unknown;
myths effective way of transmitting religious,
social and ethical values.
What is an aetiological myth? 23
Myth about how things came about and were
caused – origin of universe and components
Examples of myth – task 25
Common themes in creation myths
 
Read the creation myths
Identify common themes
Chaotic formless state existed before the creation
of the universe (body of water)
A god who exists in a void performs some action
which results in the universe coming into being
Human appear, usually in the final stage
This appearance reflects a link between humans
and the supernatural creative force
Examples of myths of good and evil
The story of Job
This is a good example to use as we referred to it
last year when we studied the Problem of Evil
and Suffering.
Hercules
Supporting evidence
Myths help to overcome fears of the
unknown; myths effective way of transmitting
religious, social and ethical values.
Supporting evidence? 25
To reject mythological language is to reject many
religious beliefs underlying it
Gilkey
 argued for the continued use of myth in the
modern scientific world and the continued relevance of
symbols and myths in the modern world – can convey
God’s power e.g. creation
Through the language of myth we see how our thinking
has evolved
Even people who are not religious are still influenced by
myths and symbols and they help us to interpret the
world
It is an easy way to understand abstract ideas
Complete task 26
Supportive evidence – different forms of
myths to convey meaning: creation myths;
myths of good against evil; heroic myths. 
Myths help to overcome fears of the
unknown; myths effective way of transmitting
religious, social and ethical values.
Challenges to the use of myths
Look at the list made of inherent problems of
religious language made from the first lesson.
 Which of these has apparently been solved
through the use of myths?
Which remain a problem?
Challenges? 26
problem of competing myths;
meanings of myths change over time as they
reflect the values of society as societal
constructs;
demythologisation of myths results in varying
interpretations,
myths often incompatible with scientific
understanding of the world
Challenges:
Competing myths
Meanings of myths
Demythologisation of
myths results in
varying interpretations
Myths often incompatible
with scientific understanding
of the world
Bultmann
‘lost in
translation’
Explain why some Christians are critical
of interpreting religious language as
myth.
Discuss your ideas in your group
Write on post its
Stick on board
Create a class list of ideas
How successfully do the ideas of myths,
symbols and metaphors defend
religious language from the accusation
that is meaningless because it can’t be
verified or falsified?
Successful
   
Unsuccessful
‘Myths are meaningless stories’
Discuss
‘Symbols help people to understand
the mystery of God’ Discuss
 
 
Make notes on Braithwaite’s view of religious
language as moral discourse
Homework
Complete all activities in the booklet up to page
26
Research and ensure you bring into college
examples of creation myths, myths of good and
evil and heroic myths – one Christian and one
other
Read and make notes on the article about
Wittgenstein at the back of the booklet
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Religious language is often non-cognitive and mythical, using complex forms of myths to communicate values and insights into the purpose of existence. These myths, such as creation myths and myths of good versus evil, help transmit religious, social, and ethical values while also addressing fears of the unknown. Challenges include competing myths and evolving meanings that reflect societal values. Myths are symbolic and metaphorical, conveying deeper truths rather than literal facts, and can inspire faith, morality, and new understandings.


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  1. Religious language as non- cognitive and mythical: Complex form of mythical language that communicates values and insights into purpose of existence. Supportive evidence different forms of myths to convey meaning: creation myths; myths of good against evil; heroic myths. Myths help to overcome fears of the unknown; myths effective way of transmitting religious, social and ethical values. Challenges: problem of competing myths; meanings of myths change over time as they reflect the values of society as societal constructs; demythologisation of myths results in varying interpretations, myths often incompatible with scientific understanding of the world

  2. Religious language as non-cognitive What does non-cognitive mean? A view of religious language that argues that its function is not to inform or contain factual information.

  3. What are myths and metaphors? Use symbols, metaphor and allegory Story not true but explain truths Stories in Old Testament Metaphors convey meaning behind story

  4. There are three senses in which a myth could convey a religious truth page 21 Read page 21, make notes under these headings. Myths can inspire faith and morality Myths can provide a way for believers to accept religion and science to Myths open up new levels of understanding Recap complete tasks 23 and 24 Remember Scholars Examples from religious language

  5. Supporting evidence for the use of mythical language Different forms of myths to convey meaning: creation myths; myths of good against evil; heroic myths. Myths help to overcome fears of the unknown; myths effective way of transmitting religious, social and ethical values.

  6. What is an aetiological myth? 23 Myth about how things came about and were caused origin of universe and components

  7. Examples of myth task 25 Creation Other myths good and evil and hero myths Christian 23 and 24 Other religion or culture

  8. Common themes in creation myths Read the creation myths Identify common themes Chaotic formless state existed before the creation of the universe (body of water) A god who exists in a void performs some action which results in the universe coming into being Human appear, usually in the final stage This appearance reflects a link between humans and the supernatural creative force

  9. Examples of myths of good and evil The story of Job This is a good example to use as we referred to it last year when we studied the Problem of Evil and Suffering. Hercules

  10. Supporting evidence Myths help to overcome fears of the unknown; myths effective way of transmitting religious, social and ethical values.

  11. Supporting evidence? 25 To reject mythological language is to reject many religious beliefs underlying it Gilkey argued for the continued use of myth in the modern scientific world and the continued relevance of symbols and myths in the modern world can convey God s power e.g. creation Through the language of myth we see how our thinking has evolved Even people who are not religious are still influenced by myths and symbols and they help us to interpret the world It is an easy way to understand abstract ideas Complete task 26

  12. Supportive evidence different forms of myths to convey meaning: creation myths; myths of good against evil; heroic myths. Myths help to overcome fears of the unknown; myths effective way of transmitting religious, social and ethical values.

  13. Challenges to the use of myths Look at the list made of inherent problems of religious language made from the first lesson. Which of these has apparently been solved through the use of myths? Which remain a problem?

  14. Challenges? 26 problem of competing myths; meanings of myths change over time as they reflect the values of society as societal constructs; demythologisation of myths results in varying interpretations, myths often incompatible with scientific understanding of the world

  15. Competing myths Meanings of myths lost in translation Challenges: Myths often incompatible with scientific understanding of the world Demythologisation of myths results in varying interpretations Bultmann

  16. Explain why some Christians are critical of interpreting religious language as myth. Discuss your ideas in your group Write on post its Stick on board Create a class list of ideas

  17. How successfully do the ideas of myths, symbols and metaphors defend religious language from the accusation that is meaningless because it can t be verified or falsified? Successful Unsuccessful Myths are meaningless stories Discuss

  18. Symbols help people to understand the mystery of God Discuss

  19. Make notes on Braithwaites view of religious language as moral discourse

  20. Homework Complete all activities in the booklet up to page 26 Research and ensure you bring into college examples of creation myths, myths of good and evil and heroic myths one Christian and one other Read and make notes on the article about Wittgenstein at the back of the booklet

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