In what way do we use “histories” and myths to explain, legitimize, and revolutionize ethical values, political organizations, and cosmological ideas?
Essay Requirements:
- Length: 800-1000 words
- Sources: Refer to and critically engage with T.W. Doane’s book Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions, particularly focusing on chapters “Paganism in Christianity” and “The Antiquity of Pagan Religions”. Additionally, refer to Rebecca Futo Kennedy’s article, “Western Civilization,’ White Supremacism and the Myth of a White Ancient Greece”.
Structure:
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Introduction
- Provide an overview of the essay’s topic, emphasizing the role of histories and myths in shaping ethical values, political organizations, and cosmological ideas.
- Introduce the main arguments or themes that will be discussed, drawing from T.W. Doane’s analysis on parallels between pagan religions and Christianity, as well as Kennedy’s critique of Western mythologies.
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Body Paragraphs
- Discuss how histories and myths are utilized to explain ethical values, drawing from examples in Doane’s chapters and Kennedy’s article to illustrate the influence of mythic narratives on moral frameworks.
- Analyze the role of histories and myths in legitimizing political organizations, using historical contexts and contemporary examples to support your argument, integrating insights from Doane’s examination of religious influences.
- Explore how cosmological ideas are revolutionized through narratives of histories and myths, considering their impact on cultural perceptions and beliefs as discussed by Doane and relevant contemporary sources.
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Conclusion
- Summarize the main points discussed in the essay regarding the influence of histories and myths on ethical values, political organizations, and cosmological ideas.
- Offer your own reflections on the implications of using histories and myths to shape these aspects of society, drawing conclusions from Doane’s comparisons and Kennedy’s critical perspectives on Western civilization.
Additional Guidance:
- Ensure to critically engage with Doane’s arguments about the parallels between pagan and Christian religious narratives, focusing on how these myths influence ethical values and cultural beliefs.
- Use specific examples from history or contemporary society to illustrate the pervasive influence of mythic narratives on societal structures and ideologies.
- Consider the complexities of truth and knowledge claims in different contexts and the implications for objectivity versus relativism, drawing on insights from both Doane’s comparative analysis and Kennedy’s scholarly critique.
- Discuss the factors that contribute to the revisionist histories or the rewriting of a society’s history, drawing connections to Kennedy’s analysis of myth-making in Western civilization.
Note: This essay assignment encourages students to critically analyze how narratives of history and myth influence various aspects of society, drawing connections between past and present perspectives on ethical values, political structures, and cosmological beliefs, while integrating insights from T.W. Doane’s comparative religious studies and Rebecca Futo Kennedy’s examination of Western mythologies.
Link to article below
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/31885/pg31885-images.html#Page_48