Blog 3786 – 03.24.2026

The Power of Myth

Famed writer Joseph Campbell in his book The Power of Myth and several other books postulates that the myths we tell ourselves are attempts to understand the world around us and our place in it.  Even the most devout religious people will freely admit that religions other than their own have their basis in stories, myths passed down for generations. Viewed from outside all these religions that profess themselves to be the one true religion seem based more on mythology than facts.

It is amazing what people are willing to believe to try to make some sense of things that just don’t seem to make sense at all. Is it any wonder that there is so much confusion and hypocrisy in the world with all the incredible claims of religion and politics that surround us.

Science claims to make observations and from those observations postulate theories and then with experimentation tries to prove or disprove those theories. New information or evidence calls for the revising of those theories. Faith on the other hand does not require facts and often considers any questioning of religious dogma as heresy or in politics as unpatriotic, hence the quotation that “Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels.”

Words and facts matter as do the meanings of the myths, the stories, the lies that we tell ourselves and that others tell us. That we have been lied to is  easily proven, but the reason that we continue to choose to believe the lies says a great deal about us.

Jesus is often quoted as having said, “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” Another great scripture regarding truth says, “I have no greater joy than to hear of my children living in the truth.” And yet we are content to believe in stories, in lies, in myths that keep us far from the truth.” This ought not be so.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David James White