The Power of Myth

Science tells us how things happen — how stars form, how diseases spread, how minds think, how species evolve. Yet, it remains silent on the why. Why do we exist? Why must we suffer? Why is there death, love, or morality? Science, by its nature, seeks explanation, not purpose. But human beings crave purpose. We need meaning to make sense of our lives, to justify ambition, to cope with suffering, to hold families and societies together. That is why, even in the most modern and rational of ages, there is no escape from myth.

Why Myths Matter

Myths are not mere stories from the past. They are maps of meaning that help cultures and individuals navigate life’s uncertainties. Every civilization, from the ancient Greeks to the modern Americans, is built on a foundation of myth — a shared framework of stories, symbols, and rituals that express its deepest truths.

To experience abstract ideas like fate, free will, or divinity, human beings require something tangible — a story to hear, a symbol to see, a ritual to perform. These form the fabric of mythology — the language through which myth speaks to a culture. Mythology gives shape to invisible ideas, turning belief into experience.

The Mirror of Cultures

When we compare mythologies across civilizations, we find both similarities and differences. Similarities reveal what makes us human — our shared emotions, fears, and hopes. Differences reveal what makes each culture unique — its perspective on existence.

For instance, both Hinduism and Buddhism believe in the wheel of rebirth, yet they diverge on the idea of the eternal soul: Hindus believe in an unchanging atman, while Buddhists do not. Similarly, both Hindus and Muslims worship an all-powerful God, but Islam believes in a single life and a singular divine path through the Prophet Muhammad. Each mythology, in its own way, reflects how its people see the world and their place within it.

The Futility of a Single Myth

Humanity has long sought a universal myth, a common frame of reference — much like a uniform civil code for the spirit. But such uniformity would strip humanity of its richness. It would be like asking every person to view life through the same window, ignoring the beauty of diversity. Each myth is shaped by its own geography, history, and emotional climate. What brings meaning in one culture may not resonate in another.

Beyond Reason: The Logic of Faith

Any attempt to explain myth in purely rational terms is destined to fail. The moment one tries to justify a miracle or dissect a divine story, it loses its essence. Myths are meant to be experienced, not debated. That is why they are filled with paradoxes and symbols that defy logic — gods with many heads, demons with countless arms, virgin births, parting seas, or covenants sealed in blood.

This deliberate suspension of logic gives myth its power. It does not demand proof; it asks for faith. For the believer, myth is real and rational within its own frame of reference. It transcends argument because it offers emotional truth, not scientific evidence. And this emotional truth ensures its survival across generations and continents.

The Evolution of Belief

Though myths are eternal in spirit, they are not static. They evolve with time, informed by the changing realities of history and society. There was a time when mythology justified inequality — when only a certain caste could enter a shrine. Today, the same myth has transformed to embrace equality and inclusiveness. Once, myth said people are unequal; now it says all are equal before the divine.

This adaptability makes mythology a living force. It both shapes and is shaped by the people who believe in it. As societies evolve, so do their myths — reflecting a collective moral and spiritual growth.

The Emotional Core of Existence

At its heart, human life is not driven by reason but by emotion — love, fear, hope, greed, and ambition. These cannot be explained by formulas or proven in laboratories. Logic may guide our inventions, but emotion guides our lives. And since emotion defies rationality, we need myth — a symbolic language that helps us find coherence in chaos.

Science helps us survive, but myth helps us live. It offers not just explanations, but meaning. It teaches us to see purpose in suffering, order in uncertainty, and unity in diversity. Myths, therefore, are not relics of a primitive past; they are the spiritual DNA of humanity, shaping our dreams, our cultures, and our civilizations.

As long as humans seek meaning in a meaningless universe, myth will endure — not as illusion, but as our most profound truth.