From: uunet!samsung!ulowell!harvard!generali!cps@windom.UCAR.EDU (Chris Schaeffer)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: Mythopoetic Groups
Date: 15 Dec 1992 15:57:05 GMT
Organization: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: remarque.berkeley.edu
Summary: Myth informs our life
Keywords: myth
Originator: muffy@remarque.berkeley.edu

sfjr@wam.umd.edu (Steve Russell) writes:

>1.  These "men's" groups seem almost the same as the various "goddess-
>    religions" being created by some feminists.  Why do some feminists
>    criticize these groups so heavily?

	Perhaps because they see these actions as attempts to revivify
traditional images instead of creating new concepts of gender. The damage done
to both genders by traditional gender role policing (dictated by some ideal)
is a major complaint of both feminism and the men's literature I'm familiar 
with.

>3.  It seems to my view that many problems have been self-created for
>    human's by engaging in myth making/religion building for the past
>    several thousand years.  Isnt it illogical to solve the problem
>    of stereotypes/edicts from these things by going out and inventing
>    more of them?  

	I believe that part of human's understanding of the universe
is mythical. Some of the basic questions (IMHO) are:  Where did I come from?
, Why am I here?  and Where am I going?  You can answer these questions w/o
stereotypes and edicts but to extend the answers beyond your life (and thus
to have some larger meaning or purpose) you need to invoke some 'story'.
Humans excel at making up stories.  These stories may be the most powerful
things ever created by humankind.  They can form the basis by which millions
of people run their lives.  They can sustain people in the most hellish
conditions (cf. Wisel's remark about who made it thru the concentration camps).
If you can control what stories get told to explain why we're here etc. you're
able to set the starting points for every debate.
u
>4.  By #3, wouldnt people be better off if they looked at themselves
>    and the world as is?  Why do we need to become "The Great Hunter"
>    or "The Healing Woman"?  Why cant we be just "Harry The Accountant"
>    or "Lisa The Lawyer"? ... 
>
>Steve R

I think that the world is confusing enough that everyone needs a good story (or two or three) to help make sense.  I use a fairly standard set of stories
and I'm trying (have been trying) to change some of them that I don't like.
They help me interpret, respond and connect with people and history.
Understanding your place and purpose in life may be possible *only*
through a story.  Tell that story often enough and it becomes a myth.
If enough people base their lives on your story you have a religion.
One of the most interesting things about these stories is that both our
own little one and the big ones (Christianity, Communism) can change.

Chris
i

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