Features of mythological thinking

Have you ever wondered why many people like myths and legends so much, and some are sure that most of these stories are not fiction at all? There is a theory that it is mythological thinking that is the first step in the evolution of the human worldview.

In those days when the first people on the planet could not give a scientific explanation to this or that natural phenomenon, mythological thinking appeared. It was believed that rainfall or lack thereof in the power of a certain deity. Birds are messengers of the creator on earth, and wolves are able to talk to the moon. In every corner of the earth, myths have been created.

A little later, most likely, a certain person with deeper knowledge realized that this form of thinking allows you to influence the masses. Thus, various religious movements appeared. Uneducated people easily believed in a miracle that would be available if a sacrifice was made.

Everywhere and always, some individuals create and enrich myths at the expense of this, while others sincerely believe in them and hope for wonderful events. In Greece, for example, there are still people who worship Zeus. In different parts of Russia there are many settlements in which paganism is preached in the 21st century.

What can we say about the tribes living in the dense forests of Africa and America. Some of them still do not wear clothes, perform rituals prescribed by customs, which are primarily based on myths. However, for those who came from a primitive state, new myths were invented. They are used by many cosmetology companies in the world.

The legend that, using creams, a woman will always look 18 years old, penetrates into our consciousness for years.We are given this information almost with mother’s milk using a TV, radio, and even my mother’s own mother. In reality, not always these funds have a miraculous effect, and more often - do not possess at all.

There are several signs characteristic of mythological thinking.

• The first and main distinguishing feature of myth from reality is categorical lack of evidence. Any legend about a hero or appearance is not in doubt. Facts, on the contrary, ideally should be shrouded in as much mystery as possible. It is then that it does not occur to a potential consumer to seek both evidence and a rebuttal of a legend.
• One of the main methods is allegorical myths. No scientific terms. The more mysterious the beauty of the characters or events, the more attractive they become.
• Lack of causation - The next feature of myths. The presence or absence of any natural phenomenon in them is explained by the desire or unwillingness of some omnipotent being to give it to people or not to give it. The same applies to diseases sent to an objectionable higher power person.

As a person developed, his mythological thinking developed. If initially natural phenomena were explained by myths, on which at that time every inhabitant of the planet depended on everyday affairs, then later the legends and rituals accompanying them developed on other topics. By the way, it was the defense against various misfortunes that became the first stage in the development of mythological thinking. Let's try to compose our own chronicle.

At first there was fear. Before the forces of nature (rain, wind, sun, thunderstorm), wild animals (including mammoths), and until man invented practical remedies, he used mythological ones. Some of them are still used by many people. It is believed that a woman with an empty bucket, met along the way, is a sign that certainly promises trouble. A bird flying into a house brings illness or even death. And there are many such beliefs that are common in our century.

Many well-educated people are well aware that there is no real danger in the cat crossing the road, but nevertheless they abide by the rules prescribed once and by someone and just in case they spit over their left shoulder. This is more an act of complacency than a way to deal with otherworldly potentially dangerous forces, but it still exists. Some of us always look in the mirror before leaving the room in which we returned for the forgotten thing. A rare bride will show the dress to the groom before the wedding. Examples of such beliefs can be cited endlessly.

Moreover, in all these myths and rituals there is one feature. Wherever you look - your own rules and interpretations of myths. So, for example, in one village a celebration on the occasion of a wedding must take place in the presence of a black cat. For the same festive occasion, in a neighboring village, all mewing creatures are driven away in advance away from the house of the spouses.

Then faith appeared. Some peoples still live by the rules adopted hundreds of years ago and sincerely believe in their justice. What makes them do this is not the lack of reason, but the fact that mythological thinking has prevailed over other types of thought processes. There are cases when whole tribes died out after a civilized person visited them. The reason is simple - an infection. These people do not get vaccinated. They believe in the defense of higher powers.

To feel a connection with an incomprehensible world, a man began to look for a guide. They should have become a kind of divine being, the image of which each people created himself. Someone raised animals to the rank of saints (for example, in India, cows are not eaten even during periods of general hunger), somewhere gods like people appeared (Greek mythology is a prime example).

Our ancestors turned to clear looking idols, going hunting, they asked them for advice before starting a particular business, they performed sacrifices in front of them. Then there were frescoes, icons, statues of divine creatures. A man should have seen the one to whom he turns in grief and in joy.

There is another gradation of myths. In this case, they are divided by topic.

• Cosmogonic - explain the appearance of both the planet in particular and the galaxy as a whole. They talk about the firmament that emerged from the water, the creation of the world from an egg, about the events that have befallen our planet over the past several million years.

• Anthropological - tell us about our own origin. Adam's rib, monkey ancestor or alien origin - everyone can choose any of the versions.

• Eschatological legends They say that the end of the world will come sooner or later. Execution of the ominous prediction of the Maya Indians about the end of the world on December 21, 2012 was waiting for millions of people around the planet. They did not wait and began to look for new omens of the Apocalypse. This is how our mythological thinking works.

• Heroic - create an idol. It has always been characteristic of man to believe in a fairy tale with the Princess Frog in the title role, the handsome prince on a white horse or Emely on the stove.

• About animals - about cats on the road, birds in the apartment.

Everyone decides where to proceed with the help of mythological thinking - on the field of miracles, into the country of fools, or to make mythology their profession. But to one degree or another mythological thinking is characteristic even of convinced atheists and agnostics.