What is a Myth versus what is not a Myth?
A culture's collective mythology helps convey
belonging, shared and religious experiences, behavioral models, and
moral and practical lessons.
The study of myth began in
ancient history. Rival classes of the
Greek myths by
Euhemerus,
Plato and
Sallustius were developed by the
Neoplatonists and later revived by
Renaissance mythographers. The nineteenth-century
comparative mythology reinterpreted myth as a primitive and failed counterpart of
science (
Tylor), a "disease of language" (
Müller), or a misinterpretation of
magical ritual(
Frazer).
Recent approaches often view myths as manifestations of
psychological, cultural, or societal truths, rather than as inaccurate historical accounts.
One theory claims that myths are distorted accounts of historical events.
[47][48] According to this theory, storytellers repeatedly elaborate upon historical accounts until the figures in those accounts gain the status of gods.
The word
mythología [μυθολογία] appears in
Plato, but was used as a general term for "fiction" or "story-telling" of any kind
From its earliest use in reference to a collection of traditional stories or beliefs,
[14] mythology implied the falsehood of the stories being described. It came to be applied by analogy with similar bodies of
traditional stories among other
polytheistic cultures around the world.
[9] The Greek loanword
mythos[16] (pl.
mythoi) and Latinate
mythus[18] (pl.
mythi) both appeared in English before the first example of
myth in 1830.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythology
2.
The worship of Santa Muerte also attracts those who are not inclined to seek the traditional
Catholic Church for spiritual solace, as it is part of the "legitimate" sector of society. Many followers of Santa Muerte live on the margins of the law or outside it entirely. Many street vendors, taxi drivers, vendors of
counterfeit merchandise, street people,
prostitutes,
pickpockets, petty
drug traffickersand
gangmembers are not practicing Catholics or Protestants, but neither are they
atheists.
[3]
In essence they have created their own new religion that reflects their realities, identity, and practices, especially since it speaks to the violence and struggles for life that many of these people face.
[3] Conversely both police and military in Mexico can be counted among the faithful who ask for blessings on their weapons and ammunition.
[3]
Altars with images of Santa Muerte have been found in many drug houses in both Mexico and the United States.
[3] Among Santa Muerte's more famous devotees are kidnapper Daniel Arizmendi López, known as
El Mochaorejas, and Gilberto García Mena, one of the bosses of the
Gulf Cartel.
[17][45] In March 2012, the
Sonora State Investigative Police announced that they had arrested eight people for
murder for allegedly having performed a
human sacrifice of a woman and two ten-year-old boys to Santa Muerte (see:
Silvia Meraz).
[47]
In December 2010, the self-proclaimed bishop David Romo was arrested on charges of banking funds of a kidnapping gang linked to a
cartel. He continues to lead his sect from his prison, but it is unfeasible for Romo or anyone else to gain dominance over the Santa Muerte cult. Her faith is spreading rapidly and "organically" from town to town, so that is easy to become a preacher or messianic figure. Drug lords, like that of La Familia Cartel, take advantage of "gangster foot soldiers'" vulnerability and enforced religious obedience to establish a holy meaning to their cause that would keep their soldiers disciplined.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Muerte
Idolatry is about inventing imaginary religious beliefs.
