| Author | |
Chari
Forum Moderator
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5228
|
| Posted: Jan 16 2010 at 2:20pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
I have a friend who is Christian (raised nominally Catholic, but not Catholic now....does not attend church anywhere...pray for her!  )
who is so uncomfortable with the Greek myths, etc......that she keeps them out of the reach of her children.....they have no knowledge
I would like to have the words to explain to her why they are useful and good.........could you please help me?
I recently heard something from CS Lewis as to WHY....but I have to go trace the quote.
It was something about learning the stories of the Greek Gods preparing us for the REAL God, esp of Jesus Christ....
They LOVE Narnia (which sometimes has the myths intertwined ) so I hope they will be able to see......
Thanks for your help!
Blessings,
__________________
Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Tami
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 27 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1066
|
| Posted: Jan 16 2010 at 2:37pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Chari, there are so many references to mythology that people don't understand because they've never been exposed to them! And our government has such similarities to the Roman system, that if you study it you would have to have exposure to the culture as well.
I guess the real question I'd ask her is "why?" What is it about the myths that makes her so uncomfortable?
__________________
God bless,
Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Jan 16 2010 at 5:17pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
The book "Making Senses Out of Scripture" by Mark Shea Talks some about this.. basically the Old Testament is the Jewish people's struggle toward the advent of Christ.
The other stories and myths tell us about the rest of the world and how they long for a true God and how over time you can tell that the myths and stories just aren't enough.. it's the struggle of the rest of the world toward Christ.
I may not be paraphrasing very well. But the whole idea that it shows the rest of the world and how they were yearning toward a savior as well as the Jewish people I found to be a very intriguing and compelling argument.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MicheleQ
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2193
|
| Posted: Jan 16 2010 at 5:40pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Memoria Press has a few articles that might be helpful:
Why Read Homer's Iliad?
The Tale of Two Kings: The difference between God and the gods.
__________________
Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
guitarnan
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 10883
|
| Posted: Jan 16 2010 at 8:49pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I was taught in Catholic school that we learn about various mythologies because they have become part of the lexicon of Western culture. You can't read, say, Milton's "Paradise Lost," and understand it without comprehending the references contained therein. The same is true for Shakespeare's plays.
It's not about believing the myths are true, but about giving our older children the tools to study and understand our literature - poems, plays, stories, novels - without a basic understanding of Who's Who on Mt. Olympus, many of the classics of English and American literature just won't make sense.
I understand not wanting young children to know the unfortunate details of the Greek gods' antics, but there are plenty of versions of the myths available for middle schoolers that get the stories across without revealing TMI.
__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Barbara C.
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 11 2007
Location: Illinois
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 882
|
| Posted: Jan 16 2010 at 9:22pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
It's like Nancy said, there are soooo many references to Greek and Roman mythology everywhere, for instance the names of the planets and their moons (which was actually my first introduction to mythology). Then there are things like knowing when someone has "the Midas touch" or has a "look that can turn someone to stone". Even shows on Disney channel sometimes reference these things.
__________________
Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
Box of Chocolates
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
catholicmomma
Forum Newbie
Joined: June 06 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13
|
| Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 7:53pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
When I first started homeschooling 11 years ago, I was influenced by some friends who insisted that any and all myths were based in paganism, and therefore would be detrimental to my children. That seemed to make sense. But since I had a degree in English, I was a little skeptical. Then they insisted the Little Mermaid was evil and would corrupt their children. Since I love the original fairy tale (very Christian and completely different than the Disney version, btw), I thought their opinion might be little short-sighted. Boy am I glad I didn't listen to them, but instead invested in D'Aulaire's Greek myths, Age of Mythology and other similar books and games.
Now I teach junior high and high school literature classes. Without a doubt my students who have a background in mythology understand and enjoy higher-level poetry and literature's classical references more quickly and more thoroughly. In fact, I'd say it takes twice as long to explain Shakespeare, and the process of explaining mythological background from the beginning is so cumbersome that many students lose interest in the process.
My friends later became Protestant, and joined a very fundamentalist church that really downplays the role of education. Perhaps your friend is also influenced by uneducated preaching that sees no value in higher learning? I've no advice on talking to her, except maybe to point out that so very much of our literary heritage (and modern culture as well) is based on the ancients that you're doing a disservice to your students if you don't expose them to it.
-Lisa B in OH
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
ekbell
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 22 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 747
|
| Posted: Jan 21 2010 at 6:03pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
guitarnan wrote:
I was taught in Catholic school that we learn about various mythologies because they have become part of the lexicon of Western culture. You can't read, say, Milton's "Paradise Lost," and understand it without comprehending the references contained therein. The same is true for Shakespeare's plays.
It's not about believing the myths are true, but about giving our older children the tools to study and understand our literature - poems, plays, stories, novels - without a basic understanding of Who's Who on Mt. Olympus, many of the classics of English and American literature just won't make sense.
I understand not wanting young children to know the unfortunate details of the Greek gods' antics, but there are plenty of versions of the myths available for middle schoolers that get the stories across without revealing TMI. |
|
|
My first introduction to the greek myths was through a copy of Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne at my grandparents.
This book and a previous one A Wonder Book for boys and girls would make an amusing introduction some of the myths .
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
lapazfarm
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005
Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6082
|
| Posted: Jan 21 2010 at 6:25pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
guitarnan wrote:
I was taught in Catholic school that we learn about various mythologies because they have become part of the lexicon of Western culture. You can't read, say, Milton's "Paradise Lost," and understand it without comprehending the references contained therein. The same is true for Shakespeare's plays.
It's not about believing the myths are true, but about giving our older children the tools to study and understand our literature - poems, plays, stories, novels - without a basic understanding of Who's Who on Mt. Olympus, many of the classics of English and American literature just won't make sense.
|
|
|
Exactly. It's about being a well-informed person, able to participate in the "great conversation".
__________________
Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: Why the ancient myths? Why?
