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Beware the Jabberwock recently posted a topic asking if you believed in Atlantis. Well, this is a more broad question: Do you believe in mythology?

You make view and answer this question however you like. I have no specific meaning for it. If when you read it you think, "Do I believe in Gods/Goddesses?" then answer that question. If when you read it you think, "Do I believe in the power of story telling?" answer that question. This is a sort of "In the eye of the beholder" question. I'm just trying to start up a good discussion.

Though I won't answer directly myself, I will coment on others answers and discus my own opinions. Long posts are wonderful! Have fun everyone.

-Nemesis

In other words, myths are big fish tales.

I suppose they could have started that way. Though that's not what I Believe.

Myths are about people, yes, but are they real stories that have been exaggerated or are they dreams, dreams of perfection? Tales meant to inspire, to give young and old alike something to strive for?

What is the origin of Myth?

Which is exactly why I asked it. Come on, I'm trying to create a good discussion here. Can't you guys take a hint? Start posting one of the many answers! Everyone has different opinions, and I'm sure at least most of the people in this guild are interested in hearing what other people have to say.

I think that beliefs began as a sort of nature-worship and magic-worship, and that slowly evolved into worship of personifications of the different aspects of nature. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that the oldest forms of worship were of this sort; the Greek Titans, Norse Vanir and Jotuns, and Egyptian animal worship.

Then, as the cultures became larger and less hunter/gatherer, gods of less physical and less natural things began to arise. As fertility and nature began to seem less important to the society as a whole, gods representing things such as warfare, justice, and wisdom began to form. Since there already were personifications of such things as "water" and "fertility," I think that it was then a logical step to make personifications of human contructs as well.

In some cases, like the Ancient Greeks, there is evidence that perhaps a new pantheon completely supplanted the old one; in others, like the Norse, there was a bit of blending. And through the ages, whichever god seemed to best fit the times was revered as the most popular patron god.

I think this addresses part of what you were asking, which was how did beliefs arise. I believe that cultures around the world probably followed a path similar to the one I laid out, but of course I cannot be sure of that.

I believe that it is possible that many myths are true.
I believe that it is possible that gods/godesses exist.
I believe that most religions might be different interpretations of the truth.

I realize that my answer was really vague. Honestly, I'm leaning more towards "Yes" than "No".

Well to have an absolutely cheezy reply, i do believe in mythology, it might not be true, but hey, you have to believe in something right? If we could disprove every single myth in human history I would be unbearably depressed, but I would still go on believing in some of the things like troy for example. Gods might not have taken part of the whole conflict between the two nations but it would help people understand how so many people could survive the ten years with the blunt weapons.