WishboneDawn

I'd exclude the first creation story from either fable or myth. It seems more like a liturgical piece.

figuer

[Although I understand why you assume your position, and partly sympathise, I disagree with the conclusion that the Bible as a whole couldn't be placed in the category of Mythology. That there are parts of the Bible that have to do with ritual or praise, with law or with factual history, does not exclude the fact that these sections operate within a mythological context, that the Bible has an overwhelming mythocentric character, or that as a whole it represents an upholds a mythological world view.

For instance, you mention several low mythic value books, yet even these have allusions to either supernatural beings or episodes that fall under the ambit of the mythic:

Leviticus, Chapter I: 1: And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 2: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, ...

Micah, Chapter I: 3: For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth. 4: And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.

James, Chapter II: 5: Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world
Chapter V: 17: Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

Nonetheless (while still holding to the original premise), I would consider that a book on Judeo-Christian mythology would be more successful if it was an edited, shortened and summarised version of the Bible, like I mentioned in post #5

I have already begun working on this project, following the aforementioned plan.

WishboneDawn

I think Genesis and Exodus are probably the key bits of myth, Most of the rest I'd tend to err on the side of legend rather than Myth. Call it a book of Judeo-Christian Myth, Fable and Legend and I'd be happy.

figuer

How about? Judeo-Christian Mythology: Myths and Legends from the Bible

I find that the collective term 'mythology' is inclusive of 'legends'.

For instance, Latin mythology includes the legends pertaining to the founding of the city of Rome and the establishment of the Republic, stories which barely contain the supernatural.

Definition: mythology - myths collectively; the body of stories associated with a culture or institution or person

There also seems to be an open scholarly debate concerning the limits of Mythology:

From Wi, Mythology:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythology

Myth in general use is often interchangeable with legend or allegory, but some scholars strictly distinguish the terms... The newest edition of the OED distinguishes the meanings
1a. "A traditional story, typically involving supernatural beings or forces or creatures , which embodies and provides an explanation, aetiology, or justification for something such as the early history of a society, a religious belief or ritual, or a natural phenomenon", citing the Westminster Review of 1830 as the first English attestation[3]
1b. "As a mass noun: such stories collectively or as a genre." (1840)

Religious-studies scholars often limit the term "myth" to stories whose main characters "must be gods or near-gods".[7] Some scholars disagree with such attempts to restrict the definition of the word "myth". The classicist G. S. Kirk thinks the distinction between myths and folktales may be useful,[8] but he argues that "the categorizing of tales as folktales, legends, and proper myths, simple and appealing as it seems, can be seriously confusing".[9] In particular, he rejects the idea "that all myths are associated with religious beliefs, feelings or practices".[10] The religious scholar Robert A. Segal goes even farther, defining myths simply as stories whose main characters are "personalities — divine, human, or even animal".[11]

Amaleq13

It is perverse to deny that the Garden of Eden story is a short tale with a moral because it is so blatantly, obviously true.

That would only be true if the Garden of Eden story was a book unto itself that lacked a moral but neither of those is true.

Yes and one of those myths (ie Garden of Eden) clearly meets the more specific definition of "fable".

Yes and, as we've seen, this is true of the word "fable" for the Garden of Eden story.

Good, then I can expect you to not deny that the Garden of Eden story qualifies.

I thought it was apparent I was specifically referring to the Garden of Eden story. I think it is a mistake to try to apply a single descriptor to a collection of stories that are better described individually. A collection of stories that includes myths but is not restricted to myths cannot be accurately described as, itself, "mythology".

Is that what all the stories do?

No, I was suggesting that your lack of credible support for your denial of the Garden of Eden story meeting the definition of "fable" forced you to change the subject.

It seems obvious that characterizing the entire collection as "myth" misses distinctions between the collected tales.

Is it your contention that every story in Genesis meets the definition of "myth"?

Spanky

I agree with Dawn. I can see where figuer and others can clump all of the books in the bible together and call them a myth. I can also see how others do not accept that all encompassing definition. However, cut and slice it as you will, it is myth. . .and fable. . .and legend. . .and poetry. . .and. . .well, myth.
I think as a society we would be better off just to call it what it is: a myth. I don't see that happening, though. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, are well and alive in the present. To us, to some, to me, these myths are not true. To believers, they hold the keys to the kingdom and eternal bliss. Maybe 1000 years from now people will call it what it is. Maybe all of the believers will destroy the world by then. Who knows. But you might as well get used to it. The bible will not be found next to Greek Mythology anytime soon!

Spanky

BTW, can't ANYTHING be done here at BC&H with maturity? I think WishboneDawn is an example how others should conduct themselves. She is a believer (I think) and could have easily blown up, parsing words and meanings, asking for or citing scholarly bullshit, but she remained calm and collected, and said very satisfyingly why she disagreed. It just seems to get worse and worse here.

No Robots

Cognitive dissonance?

Chris Weimer

You're a little too late. Most world mythology encyclopedias have no qualms including Jewish myths in their collections.

Chris Weimer

Perhaps.

You're right, spanky, instead of demanding for scholarly evidence, I should just put you on ignore.