New Approach: Myths as Symbolic Maps of Social-Moral Order: Babylon Hammurabi Code + Moses, Lawgiver-Prophet w/ Gods of Mesopotamia (Shamash, Marduk, Enki, Nabu, Inanna, Enlil, and Anu), Zeus, Indra + E Halas: "groups exist [as] common symbolization.. create a social order" + complex encoded symbols
Creators: name: E Peck Jr, Charles
Publisher: name: Knowledge Commons
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Indian mythology
subject: Greek and Roman mythology
subject: Myths
subject: Mythology
subject: Mythology (Title)
subject: Durkheimian school of sociology
subject: Filipino Americans--Psychology
subject: Filipinos
subject: Christian art and symbolism
subject: Hindu symbolism
subject: Spirituality in art
subject: Spirituality--Psychology
subject: Spirituality in literature
subject: Religious
subject: Humanism, Religious
subject: Consciousness and self-consciousness
subject: Social perception
subject: Philosophy of mind
subject: Philosophy of Science Association
subject: Philosophy
subject: FOS: Philosophy, ethics and religion
subject: Philosophy of mind--History
subject: Social psychology
subject: Social sciences--Social aspects
subject: Social psychology--Philosophy
subject: Social psychology--Methodology
subject: Political science
subject: FOS: Political science
subject: Political science--History
subject: Political science literature
subject: Political science--Philosophy

description: 1. As Confucius, a Chinese philosopher and spiritual leader who lived from 551 to 479 BCE, observed long ago, "Signs and symbols rule the world, not words or laws!" Modern politics and religion have proved Confucius right.
2.  Religion as "a system of symbols" is a primary characteristic of Geertz's five-part definition of religion so symbolism would be a good starting point – particularly in that Chernus suggested Geertz's definition is universally accepted in the social sciences. 
3. Elzbieta Halas Model of Social Symbolism: Halas states that "groups exist only on the ground of common symbolization of their members."  "The processes of symbolization…create a social order, express meaning and control actions. Symbols are not autonomous. They constitute tools of action, indicating and dramatizing social relations"
4. D. Balaganapath observes: "The basis of every culture and every identity is determined by its own established common symbolic expression."  
5. Erica Hill's Model as "dynamic social behaviours embedded within the context of daily life of arctic hunter gatherer and beliefs in animal spirits as "human relations with the natural world"; "Their thoughts and actions established and maintained relationships with prey animals and may be more productively conceptualized as dynamic social behaviours embedded within the context of daily life than as privileged ritual acts." – and the beliefs focused attention of the community on the activity of hunting-gathering of animals.
6. Emile Durkheim's model: "The forces before which the believer bows are not simple physical energies, such as are presented to the sense and the imagination; they are social forces," 
	7. Ramon Reyes Model: "In sum, one social and moral order encompasses the living, the dead, the deities and the spirits, and the total environment."