by Keri Withington

Created on: December 15, 2006   Last Updated: May 11, 2007

Why is it that myths endure? Why do we propagate and perpetuate the existence of these stories? Myths serve many vital functions in our lives. Just as myths need people to tell and hear them, people need stories in order to survive.
In The Wisdom of the Mythtellers, Kane discusses boundaries. The world we inhabit teems, even overflows, with both mental and physical boundaries. In myths alone can we learn how to react to these boundaries. Myths teach us which boundaries we may cross, and which we cannot. They warn us of the consequences of two worlds. Some of these divisions are physical, such as territorial, or social, such as etiquette. Most, however, are mental, and exist in the areas between consciousness and dream, heaven and earth, and death and life. Myths serve as markers, fencing one world from another.

This composes part of mythology's protective ability. Our myths teach us practical and spiritual wisdom, and so protect us. Myths teach us about the interaction between god(s) and people. All religious traditions actually exist as part of a culture's folklore; religion is myths. In their purest form, myths are a group's most sacred beliefs. Children learn necessary lessons through these stories: do not wander off alone, do not trust strangers, and so forth. In difficult times, people gain solace and hope through their beliefs, such as life after death. As a representation of a greater truth, myths hold similarities throughout the world. One simple example is Noah's great flood of the Judaeo-Christian tradition. Similar flood stories exist in dozens of other cultures around the globe. The underlying components of myths are the desire for truth and love.
We continue to listen to and tell myths because we think in the terms of our particular mythology. They shape how we perceive and react to our environment. We learn from them, and we gain pleasure from them. We are defined by our myths.

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