Week 1--Cobb, Chapter 1 (Myth & History)

Our myths instruct us of the soul of history. What has happened to the soul of history since it has been banished from the modern mind? Like Cobb, Crerar Douglas of Cal State University, Northridge also talks about how the demythologizing and demystifying of modern society has happened in proportion to the rise of what Dr. Douglas calls Religion L.O. (Less Obvious). Religion in the less obvious sense includes everything in our arsenal of expression of daily living. From pop-culture to politics, Rel. L.O. seems to have filled the void created by the marginalization of Religion O (Rel. in the obvious sense—organized religion.)

So it looks like the human impulse of relating to God in mythic ways cannot be suppressed. Instead of Jesus, today most people settle for Superman. Instead of Moses, we now have Judge Judy. The Superbowl has taken the place of the conquest of Canaan. And the book of Job might fit 300 bars of Blues music, but we have much shorter versions today. These archetypal symbols of old are substituted, in an earnest need to maintain the balance of the human heart and the soul of history.

This appears to satisfy modern sensitivities. The only problem is that our substitutes seem to be lacking in their ability to comprehensively relate to ultimate issues. Many of such substitutes are spiritual junk food consumed while commuting in our daily, typically this-worldly, modern pursuits. Catching a movie or listening to a 3-minute song on the radio is often like eating empty calories. They give us just enough energy to get through, but lack the wholesome spiritual nutrition of our well-rounded, time-tested traditions. The difference in the ancient myths is that they were designed for a sustained and complete dealing with God. One of the Church’s main missionary concerns is trying to balance the old (comprehensive and time-tested traditions) with the new (modern experience and things that are relevant to the experience).