Myths as Symbolic Maps of Social Consciousness, Durkheim's Social Forces, & Social Order: Elzbieta Halas: "groups exist only on the ground of common symbolization of their members, create a social order" Mesopotamian Gods, Zeus, Indra, Germanic Myths, + Kant's Symbolic Knowledge
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

description: A New Approach: Myths (Zeus, Indra, Mesopotamian gods as "social- moral order" and Social Forces
. Symbolic Maps-Models of Social Consciousness & Social-Moral Order
1.  Elzbieta Halas Model of Social Symbolism: Halas states that "More profoundly, 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"  
2. Ramon Reyes Model: "In sum, one social and moral order encompasses the living, the dead, the deities and the spirits, and the total environment." 
3. 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,"  Emile Durkheim
4. Ekaterina Botziou Pilalis observes, "Greek mythology teaches about humanity, virtues… the tales of Hercules, King Midas, Jason and the Argonauts, Theseus and the Minotaur have very clear depictions of who is good and who is evil.  Emotions like jealousy and anger,… are addressed. Virtues such as wisdom, courage and a sense of right and wrong are also easily identifiable. In more mature literature, the lines between good and evil become blurred,….."  Of course, Xenophanes and Diogenes were two Greek philosophers who criticized the "morality" Greek gods – yet narratives are powerful tools. 
5. Myths as Symbolic Maps of Divine Order and Social-Moral Order focused on the social symbolism of Justice & Injustice in context of Elzbieta Halas statement 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!"
As Counterpoint to the Materialist maxim that spirituality is unreal and superstitious nonsense which is incorporated into the "supernatural" maladaptive stereotype  - which by definition is "outside the scope of science" and therefore a fallacy (Definist fallacy) and meaningless.  
II Social Symbolism: Confucius, Justice form Sumeria to Modern 
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!" As Rollo May observed, psychology and the social sciences has largely sidelined and marginalized symbolism. Both Muzafer Sherif and Viktor Frankl emphasized the fact that the different disciplines of science and different schools of thought are largely separate and disconnected. 
The Symbolic Interactionism school of thought, that emerged roughly around 1890 to 1910, is a sociological theory that focuses on how people create meaning through social interactions create meaning based on the argument that language and symbols construct the social world. Though mostly outside mainstream social sciences, "Social Symbolism" has made some progress. In her article, "Social Symbolism Forms and Functions," Elzbieta Halas lists more than 20 scholars who have contributed to social symbolic theory recently. Halas states, "communicative action is a collective process. Basically, the life of a group is organized around communication. More profoundly, groups exist only on the ground of common symbolization of their members."   
The modern world has proved Confucius right. For better or worse political and religious symbols are the most salient and often emotionally evocative in today's world. The Nazi regime manipulated symbols to create motivations in members and promote their ideology. They used propaganda largely grounded in symbols and symbolism to advocate their biased version of truth. The Nazis also encouraged the removal of religious symbols. Religious symbols are also extremely prominent. The symbol of Jesus Christ on the cross is a prototypal symbol.
 
Myths as Symbolic Maps of Social Consciousness Ancient Mesopotamian 
It should be emphasized that Elzbieta 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" and that the myths of ancient divinity created a common symbolization – and social order. 
An overview of Mesopotamian gods reveals numerous examples of symbolic maps of social consciousness. 
•	Shamash: The solar deity and judge of gods and men, Shamash was known as the god of justice and equity. He was a member of the Anunnaki, a special class of Mesopotamian gods. 
•	Marduk: The Babylonian god of justice, compassion, healing, and magic, Marduk was also the patron god of Babylon and was sometimes considered the god of creation. 
•	Enki: The Babylonian god of wisdom and fresh waters, Enki was also the god of magic and the patron of craftsmen, artisans, and exorcists. 
•	Nabu: The god of wisdom and learning, Nabu was the scribe of Marduk and had the ability to make prophecies come true by writing them. 
•	Inanna: Also known as Ishtar or Astarte, Inanna was the goddess of sex, war, and justice. She was also known as the Queen of Heaven and was believed to have the ability to change a person's gender. 
•	Enlil: A central deity in the Mesopotamian worldview, Enlil was both creator and destroyer, with unalterable authority and control over fate. 
•	Anu: The Mesopotamian god of the sky, Anu was also the King of Gods. He was sometimes attributed with the creation of humans with the assistance of his sons Enlil and/or Enki.: