Since early childhood I have been enamored of Greek mythology.
Greek mythology makes a lot of sense. It is populated by gods, goddesses and heroes who often behave like mere mortals, and this makes it easy for us to relate to them. They can be kind but also quick to anger and it is not a good idea to anger them. Just like humans, they are vain, jealous, lustful, vindictive and cruel.
Greek mythology resembles a multinational conglomerate ruled by a bevy of gods. At the top of the pyramid thrones CEO Zeus and his jealous wife Hera.
Zeus is smart and cunning but not exactly fair-minded. He is lording over a bunch of gods and goddesses who run different departments for him, but he knows how to delegate.
A large number of gods (Apollo, Ares, Dionysus, Hades, Hermes, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Artemis, Athena, Hera, Hestia…) preside over different domains. If you have money problems, implore Hermes. If you have sentimental difficulties, seek Eros… And so on and so forth… This way, you don’t have to bother Zeus with your petty little problems.
While the system was working pretty well, some religious crackpots started to meddle. They did not like the idea of shared responsibilities and wanted a strong man in charge of everything.
They started to blabber about monotheism, the crazy notion that there is only one God. A ridiculous idea if you ask me. How could a lone god take care singlehandedly of a very large number of unruly populations?
Religious zealots are a bunch of extremists hungry for power and they will try anything to grab it. They want a strong man, a dictator, in charge of everything and if you oppose them, they will simply kill you… in the name of a merciful god of course. How many thousands of people have been massacred by these nuts over the years?
The Jews, the Christians, the Muslims all came up with their own mythologies… pathetic stories way below the caliber of the Greek saga. A burning bush? The immaculate conception? trees moving on command?
And they want their single God to run the entire Universe. Ridiculous…
Greek mythology has regressed, but mythology itself is still alive and doing well. It flourishes everywhere and it is carefully nurtured by its caretakers. There is a Trump mythology, a Putin mythology, a communist mythology, a religious mythology, etc.
Let’s not forget that all mythologies are fanciful stories based on fiction, not facts. You need to take all of them with a large grain of salt because they are laced with ridiculous fabrications that only the faithful can stomach.
Always check the accuracy of any pronouncement before believing it.
Better a cruel truth than a comfortable delusion. Edward Abbey
Greek mythology was entertaining, modern mythologies are not. Their credo is unhealthy and dangerous.
Alain