Four Functions of Myths in Genesis

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Four Functions of Myths in Genesis The sin stories in the Book of Genesis address theological, cosmic, social, and ethical questions. These sin stories, The Fall of Man, Cain and Abel, and Noah and the Flood, and The Tower of Babel show the functions of myths and demonstrate man's likeliness to sin. These myths let the readers learn of the culture, beliefs, and foundation of the time. A myth is a symbolic way of expressing truths and beliefs that are accepted by society. Myths, which are reading literature that is imaginative, teach truths that may not always have a basis for historical fact. Myths, which communicate ideas in story form, are creative stories that explain and teach religious truths of sin and consequence. Myths tell what society should be like and are what people learned by experience. They were written in Genesis around 1000 B.C.E. and help tell the sin stories. The functions of myths can be applied to the sin stories within Genesis. The four functions are theological, cosmic, social, and ethical. The theological function of myths expresses known facts about God and his relationship to humanity. The cosmic function explains about how the world works and its purpose. It portrays the idea God created the perfect place. The social function of myths demonstrates the truth that problems start when people turned away from God. It tell the readers the organization and leaders of societies. The ethical function explains the values we should have and the proper behavior for humanity. Sin, which is turning away from God, is exemplified in the stories of Genesis. Our conscience, an inner sense of right and wrong, helps us decide what we want. Our conscience helps us to consider the consequences ... ... middle of paper ... ...by building a tower just to make a name for themselves. God then interfered by "scattering" the people all over the earth. In Judges, there is a repeated pattern of the people sinning and God interfering by sending down a Judge. The Judge then led the people to victory in a battle and returned them back to God and the Covenant. The sin stories can all be related to stories in Scripture. The sin stories in Genesis exemplify the four functions of myths which are theological, social, ethical, and cosmic. Myths are accepted truths and beliefs accepted by society. Sin, which is turning away from God, can be seen in these myths in Genesis. The sin stories, The Fall of Man, Cain and Abel, Noah and the Flood, and The Tower of Babel, all address the different functions of myths. These stories all can be related to other stories that we have studied in Scripture.

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