What is the difference between a religion and a mythology? What stops someone from saying they worship Greek gods if asked if they are religious?
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There is not one. Just as the mythology and religions are made up, so too are the rules governing the difference.
Mythology is a dead religion basically. No one or almost no one believes so they just become stories. Eventually current religions will become mythology.
Nothing, believing in a Greek god, Egyptian god, Norse god etc, all have the same outcome. The only reason abrahamic religions aren’t mythology is because their population never fully died out.
I think the answer will be subjective, but for me, as a religious person – I go with JRR Tolkien’s definition – as I am both a fantasy nerd and a Christian.
Tolkien explained that all religion is myth. However there is a “true mythology” which is the reality. All good stories and myths contain fragments (some more than others) of this “true myth” upon which the world was founded. Of course to Tolkien and myself, the Bible tells the story of this “true myth.”
However it’s perfectly reasonable for another person to believe that the Greek gods and their tales are the “true myth,” as I am sure some people do.
Over time, mythology has become synonymous with “falsehood” but that’s not true – at least not originally. A myth is not necessarily a false story.
Religion is future mythogy that is currently practiced.
Mythology is expired religion that used to be practiced.
Mythology illustrates principles of correspondence, like the relationship between fire and water, or good and evil.
Religion is a belief system requiring an emotional, intellectual, and (often) financial investment in the identity and worldview of the institution.
One needs you, the other does not. It’s easy to take shots at Christian churches, but there are many other forms of religious quackery in the modern world. Sports, universities, and even scientific communities fit the mould.
Difference between myths and religions? None.
I usually refer to the Bible stories as “Christian Myths”.
Also, there are some few people who still believe in the north gods.
Myths are a set of definitions and assumptions.
Religion is the numinous experience of a greater power, a deity (singular or plural). Regardless of beliefs.
The numinous experience is the awareness and the *feeling* of a deity that knows you better than you will ever know yourself – for better or for worse. Depending on the religion, the deity (singular or plural) may be in your favor or against you.
The deity doesn’t necessarily have a form but is experienced emotionally as a power that is outside of the human self. The self can feel it. It can be uplifting or terrifying or both. But the deity (singular or plural) is experienced as separate from one’s own mind, body and soul.
Religion can be framed by beliefs. It can be given a direction and purpose by belief. But it is not experienced solely in the mind of the believer as an intellectual set of beliefs. It is experienced always as a separate power from the believer.
The practice of religion is a way of life, a system of thought.
For a religious believer, one’s way of life is directed by the religion. Governments and populations can be shaped by religious direction and purpose. And by religious-type feelings and beliefs of ethical systems that aren’t considered religions such as Confucianism and certain channels of Buddhism.
For those interested in a well-explained deeper understanding of what religion is, with no attempts at conversion, I recommend the book “The History of God” by Karen Armstrong. She looks at the nature of religion and compares various religions throughout human history, without favoring one over the other.
What’s the difference between a cult and a religion?
100 years
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