Christianity as creative myth

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CHRISTIANITY AS CREATIVE MYTH

The word myth in the title of this lecture is not used in any deprecatory sense. It is not suggested that Christianity is only a myth or fable in which more childish minds can believe, but not fully mature persons. On the contrary myth is the means by which certain profound truths can be most fully expressed. This is one reason for calling Christianity not just myth or mythology, but creative myth. It is also meant to affirm that Christianity is not a static religion but a developing one. The fundamental truths or principles which Christianity expresses do not change, but the understanding of them changes as human consciousness develops. So also does the nature of the Christian message change as the whole human situation changes.

A total reappraisal of Christianity is necessary if it is to be a living religion and not to degenerate into superstition or into the mere outward performance of traditional rituals. What is meant by a living religion? Indeed we may ask what function religion has to perform in modern life altogether. Religion should be that aspect of human life which establishes ends and life-values. And only if the ends and values which it proclaims are generally accepted as guides for the whole conduct of life can it be called a living religion. At present this cannot truly be said of Christianity. The Churches do command a following, and the Roman Catholic Church in particular has considerable power in temporal affairs, but the Churches generally do not establish the values by which ordinary life is lived. Economic factors and political doctrines are more influential, for the ‘real’ world in which we spend our daily lives is the world in which political power and money rule—but

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