Mythical myths and legendary legends

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¿ɯɐǝɹʇsuıɐɯ os s,ʇı ʇɐɥʇ sı ɹo 'pɐǝɹɥʇ ʎƃoloɥʇʎɯ ǝɥʇ uı sƃuıǝq lɐɔıƃoloɥʇʎɯ ʇsod oʇ pǝʍollɐ ʇou I ɯ∀
Yes, that's what the thread is about. But you aren't saying anything about this mythical character, and I don't think it's your favourite one. It's not difficult to infer you are just trolling. Of course, I may be wrong, but that's just a polite way of ending this post.
 
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SeraRelm

Yes, that's what the thread is about. But you aren't saying anything about this mythical character, and I don't think it's your favourite one. It's not difficult to infer you are just trolling. Of course, I may be wrong, but that's just a polite way of ending this post.
Where we talk bout the thing on the title.
No one said it had to be a favorite. But what is there to say? A magic (soon to be zombie) man who claims to be the son of a god, transmogrifies substances, ignores the consistency of the matter upon which he treads and gives good metaphorical advice on some subjects. Not as cool as a lightning wielding blond with a magic hammer or a toga toting strongman who beat up snakes as a baby, but still pretty interesting.
 
For the record, I'm a staunch atheist, but I really do like the mythology of Christ. There's some good stuff in there. Real or fictional, he did give some damn good advice.
 
No one said it had to be a favorite. But what is there to say? A magic (soon to be zombie) man who claims to be the son of a god, transmogrifies substances, ignores the consistency of the matter upon which he treads and gives good metaphorical advice on some subjects. Not as cool as a lightning wielding blond with a magic hammer or a toga toting strongman who beat up snakes as a baby, but still pretty interesting.
Well, inside his myth, he is the son of god. He is not as metal as thor or hercules, but I agree, I think he is a pretty interesting character which has a very powerful element in his story: the fact that he is an all powerful god that becomes human to try and change the world from "our" side and suffers a lot because of it. Of course, as this story is so ingrained in our culture, it's very hard to see this as all that interesting.
 
What I don't understand is why some atheists feel the need to evangelize it so much...

Then again, many atheists I know are just mad at god for whatever reason(how can he allow evil, etc...), which kind of makes them the opposite of atheists.
 
What I don't understand is why some atheists feel the need to evangelize it so much...

Then again, many atheists I know are just mad at god for whatever reason(how can he allow evil, etc...), which kind of makes them the opposite of atheists.
I can understand getting angry at people trying to tell you how to live your life and what to believe because it's a divinely revealed truth.
 
I can understand that too, but too often it's almost compulsive to some people to point prove how much of an atheist they are at any given opportunity.

I kind of view it the same as being gay. I'm certainly comfortable with myself and live an openly gay lifestyle, but I don't feel the need to break into a dating thread on here and go on a tyrade about how glorious buttsex is.
 
On the topic of atheists, anti-theists. These are people who believe it is wrong for people to have any theology because it goes against our normal societal evolution. While I ain't the most religious person, I definitely know this to be false. How many pieces of art-work were based on Christ? How many laws were made based on the ten commandments. Religion is yes, a set of rules and practices but it is through these rules and practices that have brought order to many societies and helped them advance. Until they met someone with opposing views, then shit got crazy.

BOT, Gnomes. Gnomes are FUCKIN scary man. They can run at 35 miles an hour, have the strength of seven men, can make people feel depressed, they are freakin' deadly! Enemy to the trolls.
 
No one said it had to be a favorite. But what is there to say? A magic (soon to be zombie) man who claims to be the son of a god, transmogrifies substances, ignores the consistency of the matter upon which he treads and gives good metaphorical advice on some subjects. Not as cool as a lightning wielding blond with a magic hammer or a toga toting strongman who beat up snakes as a baby, but still pretty interesting.

Oh grow the fuck up. You were just trying to trololol and be a smartass. Just shut the fuck up.
 

North_Ranger

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I admit a liking for dragons, whether we are discussing them as celestial sages or fire-breathing monsters. Medieval bestiaries are also a hoot to read, with strange monsters such as a cow that defends itself by turning around and spraying any would-be attacker with acidic shit. Even stranger are the depictions of real animals. Did you know for instance that hyenas were believed to be androgynous and capable of breeding all by themselves?
 
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SeraRelm

On the topic of atheists, anti-theists. These are people who believe it is wrong for people to have any theology because it goes against our normal societal evolution. While I ain't the most religious person, I definitely know this to be false. How many pieces of art-work were based on Christ? How many laws were made based on the ten commandments. Religion is yes, a set of rules and practices but it is through these rules and practices that have brought order to many societies and helped them advance. Until they met someone with opposing views, then shit got crazy.
I disagree. The only two commandments that are law are the 6th and 8th commandments (the fourth is, for some silly reason, a half observed rule, though definitely not followed), but those two were laws far before any Moses making (on a side note; those artworks were breaking the first). The Romans had a rich and vast society and before the monotheists in question arrived, the Chinese and Japanese beliefs didn't include Jesus and they were doing just fine. Theology is not religion in and of itself either. It's the study of religion, and not just the Christian religion. I don't believe society needs deific religion to function, mind you, but the study of those cultural and belief systems seems prudent.

But yes, shit got crazy. Here's an example:
Oh grow the fuck up. You were just trying to trololol and be a smartass. Just shut the fuck up.
 
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Soliloquy

I've been reading Celtic and Norse mythology and there's one thing about them that really stood out: The Norse believed that their Gods would all one day be killed, and seemed to have an attitude of "Yeah, the gods won't help make things better. You gotta look out for yourselves."

The Celtics (at least in one of the stories I read) believed that many of their gods were already dead.


I'd say the mythical individual was much better than the historical figure.
 
You know, Celtic, Norse, and Greek mythologies were all once religions worshipped by people. It's very insensitive to be calling them myths, a time traveler could get very upset.
 
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Soliloquy

You know, Celtic, Norse, and Greek mythologies were all once religions worshipped by people. It's very insensitive to be calling them myths, a time traveler could get very upset.
Pfft. What's the worst that a time-traveling viking could OH GOD HE'S AFTER ME!

 
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Soliloquy

Those aren't horns. They're necessary components for his personal flux capacitor.

He told me that after chasing me down at 88mph on foot.
 
BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!


The tengu, probably my favorite of all obakemono. They could fly, teleport, make hurricane gusts, and talk with-out using their mouths(most likely telepathy). Probably the least used obakemono in fiction, which I think is friggi' rediciulous.
 
While I find Norse mythology interesting, let's not forget they all came from a giant cow licking a salt lick, and the sweat of a giant.

Also, Zeus had a thing for doing women in the shape of animals, for some reason. Like he was up on Olympus saying "oh shit guys, bet you I can turn into a duck and put a baby in that lady" and the other Gods roll their eyes and sigh as Zeus gets quackin'.
 
While I find Norse mythology interesting, let's not forget they all came from a giant cow licking a salt lick, and the sweat of a giant.

Also, Zeus had a thing for doing women in the shape of animals, for some reason. Like he was up on Olympus saying "oh shit guys, bet you I can turn into a duck and put a baby in that lady" and the other Gods roll their eyes and sigh as Zeus gets quackin'.
"Whatever happened to the Zeus who would turn into a cow, and pick up chicks?" -The Simpsons
 
Asgardians did the whole seduce people while in animal form too. Here is a lesser known story about Odin.

There was a giant who was the inventor of all poetry by making some kind of creative mead. Odin heard of it and decided to steal it. So he turned into an eagle and flew off and seduced the giants daughter to gain entry. He gulped up all the mead and made his escape. Now barely being able to fly, because he was so full. The giant found his daughter crying and asked what she was bawling about, she pointed at the disappearing fat eagle in the distance. The giant transformed into an eagle too, a much bigger one, and pursued Odin. He soon caught up and nipped at Odin's tail feathers. Odin was so surprised he vomited. The Giant tugged again, harder, and this time Odin crapped. Now considerable lighter, Odin was able to out-speed the giant. He made it home, Thor smashed the giant and there was now poetry in Asgard. However he had also unintentionally brought poetry to humans. All the vomit that rained down on the earth is the source of good poetry and all that rained down as crap is, well, crap poetry.

Perhaps they will mention this in the next Marvel Thor movie?
 
One of my favorite books I read in high school was Beowulf. And before you say it-NO it isn't Christian progaganda. Christianity during this time wasn't even nearly as big as it is today to have the progaganding skills. So many great themes, glory, revenge, hubris, just brilliant. Plus he totally ripped off a mofos arm. One point I've heard about when he fights the dragon is that he did it not because he wanted to, but as king Beowulf he NEEDED to. He set himself up with doing all this awesome stuff when he was young and as an old man he needs to in order to live up to his own legend. And when he needs his men the most, they FUCKIN bail on him. A good metaphor for how some people have pride in great accomplishments their leaders have done to make up for the fact that they can't do shit. Viclaf tore those guys a new ass-hole at B's funeral. It wasn't until he was dying after his great battle that he truly understood that living your life is more important than one's legend.

For my opinions on that piece of ass movie I'll post it in the "Bad Interpretations" thread.
 
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makare

Hmm I'll have to reread Beowulf I don't remember it focusing on Christianity.
 
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Soliloquy

Heh... the Christianity thing in Beowulf is just a few references that most scholars believe were inserted in later by monks who were writing down the oral tradition but wanted to put their own slant on it.
 
Well that explains it! Plus I always did have trouble believing Hrothgar's seat was protected by god. Was a den of mead and debauchery it was, probably one of the few things in the movie they got right. Anyone ever have mead?
 
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