Public Myths & Ideology: Creating the Easter Bunny, Chocolate Eggs, and a Personal Jesus!

One of the best things in our country is the First Amendment--Freedom of Expression.

Obviously there's something that makes people all over the world devote so much time, energy, money, all sorts of resources to specific rituals that represent certain ideals. Religion provides this vehicle to having a purpose in life. People like to feel special and be part of a special group. Also, they need to have something that makes sense of it all, you know, explain the reason for all things that exist. Well, the particular activity doesn't have to make sense in itself as long as it provides a path to an ideal and reinforces the cultural norms of the group. Most people may not even know the origins of what's traditional. Myths have changed over the generations and have been exchanged among the various groups of people. It doesn't really matter when a myth appeared or where it came from [i.e., Pagan practices incorporated into Christianity] as long as it serves a purpose. I believe that myths have played and continue to play a very important and necessary role in human societies. I also believe that they're all man-made [emphasis on man].

There was--still is--a belief that the whole universe has somehow a divine order. Likewise, human societies are governed by this natural, divine order. Under the Old Regime*, there was a very hierarchical and rigid pyramid of society, and, for most of human history, people did not question their station in life.

I don't think a myth has to have a supernatural origin to be enjoyed--I'm a living proof of this. Most people enjoy rituals--formal or informal--without much thought or good knowledge of such practices. Likewise, secular rituals, like those in politics and sports, have the goal of reinforcing norms, promote certain ideals, a communal sense, and a collective purpose. And, that's OK. As long as things work out for the most part, people are content.

My choices don't have to be the choices of others, and vice-versa. I'm OK with this. Personally, I do want to know the purpose of my actions, especially when I'm told, "don't worry, do as I say, because it's best for you, trust me"! I'm not religious--in case you're haven't figured this out yet--but, in my efforts to understand the human condition and behaviour, I've studied religion and want to know more about it. Both of my parents, especially my mother, were religious persons, but they couldn't provide me with answers to my many questions. Most religious people I meet can't do that either. That's fine. What works for them and what makes them happy, it's fine by me. On the other hand, I wish more people learned more about their faiths. [PBS' Frontline is a good way to start, at least about Jesus] I still find it very intrigueging that most don't care to investigate something that governs their lives. Therefore, I've concluded that faith plays an entirely different role than I had originally expected. It gives people comfort.

So, when people wish me "Happy Easter", "Merry Christmas", "Hope you find lots eggs in your Easter basket", "Happy(?!) Halloween", "Kiss me I'm Irish"... whatever it is, I like it! If I think it's sincere. After all, everyone makes his own universe in a way. The perceived is often more important than the actual. Isn't it? I don't see a problem with Atheists For Jesus, for example. Jesus is something personal, like all gods. My personal Jesus is a liberal! I don’t see why I can’t have a personal Jesus like the faithful do. Oh, yeah! A few others agree with the Jesus is a Liberal idea. He was in favor of uplifting the poor & the underprivileged, against social injustice, against violence; he was for generosity & sharing, compassion, and he had no problem associating with prostitutes. I don’t think this Jesus would agree with the American ..fundies who recently told us that his father brought death & destruction to New York City, New Orleans because, and elsewhere, because there were too many people like his friend, Mary Magdalene--practicing hedonism and non-sanctioned love! Here, I do find a problem when the faithful that follow the likes of Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell do get up and leave those coots after such statements.

..I gather that Jesus was a very calculating guy. He didn’t do things by accident. He had a plan! A divine plan. I think he still does. That’s why I don’t pray to Jesus. I don’t want to impose. I mean, who am I to show up one day and pray for something that may not be part of the divine plan? If things are to happen, they will, regardless of my begging or the bargaining I offer. That’s simple logic to me. [George Carlin thinks along these lines].

Anyway, speaking of planning to invent Easter. Did you hear about the discovery of the Gospel of Judas**? Fascinating stuff, I tell you. It seems (just as I had suspected 30 years ago) that Jesus had a plan, so, he told Judas to betray him to the authorities. I mean, we couldn't have much of a Christian faith without the resurrection of Jesus, would we? Judas complied and the rest is history as they say.

A year ago, I wrote about this [I'm borrowing excerpts from ..myself above] and I argued that the environment we happen to be born in and the prevailing conditions around us shape our character and much of our world view. Very few people manage to see themselves and their original group from the outside. The less secure a person feels, the stronger the need for an identity that's provided by the group, and the stronger the fear & rejection of the "others". Where do you fall in this?

* The Old Regime denotes ascribed status and religious conformity--this was the order of human societies, until a new radical ideology, that of liberalism replaced it a couple centuries ago.

**There have been many Gospels. But the Church decided (sometimes by committee) which ones should be part of the official canon.