MYTH AND FAITH IN HISTORY

Abstract

Myth is a didactic story, attributing supernatural origin to an individual or collective identity, practice or institution. As such, it is meant to perpetuate and perfect that identity, practice or institution to the full realization and manifestation of its potency. Identity is always social or collective and in contrast to another identity or several other identities. As such, every myth contains and sets in motion a social dynamic from the supernatural origin of the identity to its current or present manifestation, and its further or future shape. In terms of its time frame of past, present and future, this dynamic is historical. As such, it affects and effects or makes a history of the identity, practice or institution in view. This means that the history of the practices, institutions and identities will evolve in relative competition and rivalry to one another, and throughout in the name of the sacred as being in competition with bogus claims of others to the same sacred.