A MYTH IS NOT A FABLE

[Viva_Daddy]

A myth is true; a fable is false, a falsehood, a lie.

Just as an historical novel can give good historical information while at the same time telling a fictional (not true) story; Noah’s Ark, Moses and the Exodus, Samson and Delilah, David and Solomon, Jesus and his disciples are all fables as history but true as myth.

As depictions of something that happened in the past, they are fables. As depictions of something happening over and over repeatedly (in ever recurring cycles for eternity) - and therefore happening NOW - they are Myth.

[bravenak]

1. What?

Are you talking about? The Roman and Greek gods are MYTHS. Do you believe in them? No, u don't.
Because you are wrong in yr assessment of what a myth is.
http://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myth
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fable

Neither have to be true.

[Maedhros]

2. Um, no.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/myth

myth
noun \ˈmith\

: an idea or story that is believed by many people but that is not true

: a story that was told in an ancient culture to explain a practice, belief, or natural occurrence

: such stories as a group

Frankly, I'm not seeing your point.

[edhopper]

3. What is true about Noah and Moses

that innocent lives can be destroyed at the whim of someone more powerful?

[Viva_Daddy]

4. I didn't say myths were HISTORICALLY true. They're not, obviously.

Myths are talking about stuff that is true in a metaphysical sense.

[Jackpine Radical]

5. Then how does a myth differ from a fable?

Take, for example, Æsop's fable of the fox & the grapes. Does it not contain truth?

[gcomeau]

16. Allow me to translate!

Fables are fictional stories that should be enjoyed for their entertainment value alone.

Myths are fictional stories that omg guys, you should totally take so seriously because it's got suuuch a deep message that you can apply to your real life and the fact that it's all made up crap just doesn't matter why are you so narrow minded geez???



(Or the even shorter version, they appear to be arguing that any fables they like or can personally identify with get reclassified as myths and elevated in status as a consequence somehow)

[trotsky]

17. ...

[edhopper]

6. I get that

but what is true about Noah and Exodus?

Seems they are stories that can mean a variety of things, including justification for genocide.

[Historic NY]

7. I have to debunk lots of myths in my work....

just because its a story or is written or handed down over time doesn't mean its the "truth". Some are meant to have an outcome, positive or negative. Some are to make it seem the teller is in a position of power or in the know. There are lots of myths perpetuated every day via the internet.

[okasha]

13. Myth is not disinformation,

which can be found all over the net, the DU Religion Group included.

[AtheistCrusader]

8. This word... I do not think it means what you think it means.

[LostOne4Ever]

9. I have always thought of myth as:

Religious beliefs held by others but not to me.

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','Infindel B',fantasy;" size=5 color=teal]Of course this puts my definition of myth at stark contrast to yours.[/font]

[okasha]

10. A myth is an archetypal narrative.

The story of Noah is one of many examples of the archetypal narrative involving the god(s)' despair at human wickedness and consequent destruction of the species.

In this regard, Yahweh is actually pretty mild.mannered. Maasaw has dropped the sky on humans no less than four times, once because they were smoking g too much.

[brooklynite]

11. Myth vs Fable

A myth is a fictional story

A fable is a fictional story with an intended moral lesson

See the difference?

[PassingFair]

12. A myth is a fictional story that was once considered true.

Fables are fictional stories that were always known to be fiction.

[Iggo]

14. They're both fiction.

[LiberalAndProud]

15. Diana thanks you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_%28mythology%29