It was the
explanation of the natural phenomena he witnessed in the universe, such as the eclipses of
the sun and the moon, the formation of the clouds and the ripening of com. It was his
speculation of what happened to man after death. It was also his expression of the
gratitude he felt when he succeeded in killing his foe for in securing his food. In fact,
mythology is the raw material out of which are fashioned
later those finished products, which we call history, science, philosophy and
religion.
Very early in the history of a race the need is felt for an examination and selection of
its myths. For even the myths of the most advanced tribes are full of irrational elements.
They often contain crude, horrible, bloodthirsty and even grossly immoral stories.
Naturally, owing to the growing religious sentiment people are shocked and puzzled at some
of these. Religious sentiment has its root in man's feeling for the higher values of life.
Religious faith is nothing but a belief in the
superiority of spiritual values like truth, beauty and goodness over the lower values like
strength or success. We may say that it is only when man begins to establish the spirit on the throne of the
universe and treats the mechanism of Nature as an
instrument in its hands for the higher
ends of life that he can be called a religious being. |
