In the most general terms, mythology is a collection of stories about legends, gods, heroes, supernatural beings and events based on the belief system and traditions of a society or culture. Mythological stories often carry symbolic or allegorical meanings and were created to shape people’s thoughts, moral values and cultural identities. To consider mythologies as just old and ordinary folk tales, it would not be right, mythological narratives are full of principles that guide society and individuals materially and spiritually.
Morality and Doctrine in Mythologies: Stories that Shape Societies
In Greek mythology, the story of Prometheus, the god of fire from the Titan race, who, for the sake of knowledge and enlightenment, stole the fire forbidden to humans by Zeus from the summit of Olympus and gave it to humans as knowledge and civilization, as well as the endless torture he suffered for the sake of humanity, is reminded as a great example of sacrifice and an exemplary story in the fight against ignorance.
Persian mythology, in general, has a dualistic structure. Black-white, truth-lie, world-afterlife, good-evil… Ahura Mazda, the god of Zoroastrianism and Magianism, protects people, animals, fire, minerals, earth, water and plants with his 7 angels, the Amesha Spentas, and grants holiness to people with these angels. Angra Mainyu (Ahriman), whose name means “evil spirit”, is the cause of all kinds of sin, evil, pain, distress and suffering, who is at enmity and constant war with the god Ahura Mazda, the symbol of all goodness and holiness, and the Amesha Spentas. Under Ahriman’s command are the Daevas, or ifrits. In contrast to the seven divine angels, these ifrits have names and duties that mean anger, evil thoughts, sloth, drought, corpses, magic and fairies.
“Zoroastrianism includes the concepts of life after death and heaven and hell.”
Zoroastrianism also includes the concepts of life after death and heaven and hell. When a person dies, he is greeted by the Chinvat Bridge between the world of the living and the world of the dead. A person who has lived a life of good deeds is greeted at the other end of the bridge by a beautiful girl and ascends the three steps reflecting good thoughts, good words and good deeds and reaches heaven. Predictably, in the opposite way, a person who has lived a life of evil will be greeted at the other end of the Chinvat Bridge by an ugly, bow-legged girl who will take him down the three steps reflecting evil thoughts, evil words and evil deeds, and he will be thrown into a horrible, stinking pit with different punishments and tortures for each crime committed.
Caladrius
Caladrius, the legendary bird from medieval mythology, is believed to have white feathers and to be able to heal diseases. His (Caladrius’) specialty is that if he looks into the eyes of a sick person, he can pick up the disease. Caladrius collects diseases in its feathers and flies towards the sun to clean its feathers and leave the disease there. People used to keep images of Caladrius in their homes to cheer them up when they were sick, hoping that he would come and take away the illness.
In Norse mythology, the afterlife is described, with brave warriors who die in battle being sent to Valhalla, those who commit disgraceful crimes such as breaking oaths or kidnapping women being sent to Niflheim, a dark, gloomy land of the dead where dead souls are imprisoned, and those who do nothing good or bad during their lives being sent to the land of Hell.
Sphinxes, Egyptian Mythology
Sphinxes are mythical creatures with human heads, lion bodies and eagle wings. They are common to ancient Egyptian and Greek myths. In the Greek tradition, the sphinx is a treacherous and cruel being with the head of a woman, the body of a lion and the wings of a bird. According to Greek myths, it challenges those who encounter it to answer a riddle, and when they fail to do so, it kills and eats them. In Egyptian mythology, the Sphinx is depicted as male and is considered benevolent and protective, in stark contrast to the Greek version. Symbolic meanings of the Sphinx include wisdom, mystery, intelligence and power.
In ancient Egyptian mythology, Anubis, the god of death and funeral (mummification), depicted with a jackal’s head and human body, was also considered the guardian of the land of the dead and the guide of the dead. He would remove the hearts of deceased Egyptians and weigh them on a special scale with the feather of Ma’at, the goddess of justice and honesty. If the heart, which represented the soul of the dead, was lighter than the feather, the person was considered bona fide and sinless and was admitted to the gardens of paradise. If the heart was heavier than the feather, the soul was condemned to eternal darkness.
The Turkish Mythology
In Turkish mythology, epics with the theme of achieving victory with God’s help stand out. For example, in the Ergenekon Epic, the rebirth of the nation from captivity is witnessed and the society rises again with hope, determination and faith. In addition, the Turks are interested in attributing the origin of a race to a sacred or extraordinary source and event. Different Turkic tribes have more than one epic in this regard, passed down to generations through oral tradition. This is one of the biggest factors that kept the Turks’ perception and judgment of nation and homeland alive.
The purpose of all these myths and narratives, told in different parts of the world at different times, is to guide the human spirit and whisper in the ears of individuals the basic values and rules for the formation of an ideal society. These stories, each associated with a theme and norm, help individuals develop more positive values by keeping society away from bad habits and behaviors. It is the common values that keep people together and bring them together on the same grounds. People who live in the same region, fight against the same enemy, speak the same language, and most importantly, worship the same deity, fear the wrath of the same creator, and raise their children according to the teachings of that deity, are like an organism made up of the same cells.
“People Have Lived Collevtively in History”
Throughout history, all people who have lived on earth have lived “collectively” in one way or another, in large and small families, tribes, groups, colonies and peoples. By living together, human beings have survived, fed themselves, ensured their safety, reproduced and passed on the teachings of their ancestors and their own experiences to their younger generations.
The transmission of these collective systems of life and meaning across generations means not only the continuation of a biological heritage but also the continuity of a cultural chain. Throughout history, people have created a consciousness of “us” by passing on the teachings and experiences of the past, and through this consciousness have built strong and well-established communities. In this way, we can speak of human beings collectively and consider the entirety of human history.
Beyond meeting people’s material needs, communal life has also created a spiritual structure that keeps them together. People have assigned themselves an identity and direction through belief systems, mythologies, rituals and norms that fulfill their search for meaning. Shared stories have helped individuals understand not only themselves, but also their social role and place in the world.
What does the current picture show?
In the modern world, this “we” consciousness has gradually been replaced by a “me” consciousness, which has revealed that the idea of individual choice and freedom of thought is misinterpreted and has negative consequences. Phenomena such as depression, stress, unhappiness, insecurity, anxiety, loneliness and meaninglessness are among the rapidly growing social problems
Mythologies are important for understanding the mindset and mind codes of ancient people. However, they have lost their popularity and prestige until today due to their chaotic structure and aspects that are the product of the human mind. This mythological world of gods, where there are countless gods, forbidden and even incestuous relationships, where sins that even mortals would not commit are committed, where one defeats the other, where intrigue abounds, where arrogance, ambition, disobedience, lying, anger, slander, deception and cruelty abound, is of course far from the truth and reality.
There are billions of people living in today’s world where access to information has never been so easy since the beginning of time. Some of them turn to the source of their pain and suffering, and by researching from the right sources as they should, they come to know the last religion sent and become aware of its teachings. Just as under an umbrella one is sure of the rain, under a tree one is sure of the sun, so one is sure of one’s life, one’s mental and physical health, one’s worries and doubts, one’s fate.
And some, in order to get rid of the same pain and suffering, choose the easy way, which is denial, because they are not that brave. When they deny everything, the source and the cause of everything, they are almost alone in this big world.
Is Lack of Faith at the Root of Social Problems?
Research proves that people who adhere to their belief systems lead happier and more fulfilled lives. In a study published by the Pew Research Center in 2019, individuals who have a belief system have higher levels of well-being and peace compared to those who do not. In particular, individuals with a belief in an afterlife, such as a belief in the afterlife, have a significantly higher ability to make sense of life and cope with stress. On the other hand, it is observed that the search for identity is much more painful for young people who grow up in modern society without deep-rooted values and moral norms.
A large-scale study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology also found that regular participation in worship and religious activities reduced depression and feelings of loneliness. In particular, having a belief in a creator or an afterlife was found to improve individuals’ ability to cope better with fear of the future and uncertainty
A similar study by Harvard University showed that people of faith are more sociable and collaborative, and therefore more likely to avoid stress and anxiety.
Research by Pew and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health also found that depression rates are much higher among non-believers. Non-belief, such as atheism or agnosticism, is observed to lead to more existential anxiety, especially uncertainty about life after death and inability to question the meaning of life.
Social Problems in the Lack of Faith and Values
Today, a lack of faith and belonging is leading young people to move away from deeply rooted values and seek to construct their own world of values. This vacuum leaves many young people with a sense of hopelessness, directionlessness and meaninglessness.
For example, a study in the United States found that atheist individuals generally had higher rates of depression and suicide, and that these rates were significantly lower among believers.
Individuals who are alone in society and lack common values, in many cases, experience inner unrest and become more prone to alcohol and drug addiction, smoking, violence or similar negative behaviors and habits.
A Final Assessment
The rapidly increasing psychological and sociological problems in today’s society once again reveal the importance of religion and moral norms. Narratives from mythologies and the guidance of monotheistic, revelation-based religion are of indispensable value for the mental and social health of individuals.
Today, understanding and keeping alive the values we have inherited from the past provides individuals and societies with a strong foundation to prevent them from feeling alone, meaningless, without before or after.
