Why does it bother me...

[kriadydragon]

...when in SPN reviews people refer to the angel/demon thing as "mythology"? Well, obviously, because a lot of this I believe in. Okay, not a lot a lot - demons aren't more powerful than angels. Heck, demons aren't even more powerful than people. Demons (or evil spirits) tempt, but they can't do anymore to us than what we let them do when we give in to temptation. Which also means no taking over a person's body willy-nilly, not without that person letting them. It's in the Bible - Satan bruises our heel, we bruise his head. So all in all, SPN's dealing with angels and demons and God pretty much is mythology. Actually, it's more like they took mythology and rewrote it to fit the shows needs.

Which, I think, it's why Supernatural is one of the few shows that doesn't bother me too much when it deals with religion, because it's so skewed and far out there that separating fantasy from what I believe in requires absolutely no effort (Though I still roll my eyes over the ease with which the demons possess people and kick butt). And that's saying something, because I hate it when shows deal with religion. It's either tongue-in-cheek mockery or just making things up as they go, waxing philosophic but making it pretty dang obvious that they did little to no research beyond the basics (because I really doubt God would favor schools teaching the use of condoms over abstinence.) 

I'm not asking people to stop referring to the religious aspect as mythology. I would say call it the religious aspects, but even that feels out of place as it's not all that religious. But there are a lot of personal beliefs involved - even if the show as skewed them like crazy-mad - so there's going to be discomfort whenever the religion aspect is addressed.

Comments

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

It's either tongue-in-cheek mockery or just making things up as they go, waxing philosophic but making it pretty dang obvious that they did little to no research beyond the basics

Thank you..
This has been my feeling for quite sometime

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Television basically has no respect for anything considered sacred by anyone, which is why I think it's the least they can do not to deal with religion - any religion.

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

I think they treat the other mainstream with more respect than they do Christianity.....

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

Hmmm I think people refer to the that arc as the show's 'mythology' the same way I'd refer the alien arc in the "X-Files" as it's mythology. A collection of stories having to do with the show vs. the literal meaning.

For me it has less to do with the actual meaning of mythology as it does to overall story arc. For some mythology is easier to say and more like a catch phase...

That make sense? I tend to stick with story arch myself :D

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

*Nods* Which is why I don't get all "Grr, I'm horribly offended by that term!" when people do use it. I think, for me, it's more association. Mythology has come to be synonymous with "not real" and some people will use it in that context, which is why, I think, it bothers me.

But I had a friend once tell me - though I can't remember her exact words - that the meaning of myth has nothing to do with what is or isn't real. It's a term given to the means by which we explain things... or something like that, and just because something is called a myth doesn't mean it's not true. It was a long time ago we talked about it, but it gave me a new perspective on the word myth.

Still, because of that association, I tend to get uncomfortable when I see it used, though not really offended. Again, though, I'm not asking people not to use it - just to be clear on that ;)

[bbuttercup.livejournal.com]

If you think about it, the true nature of religion is the validation of a belief system regardless of the source, so one person's religion is another's mythology.

In the Hebrew bible, Satan's position is more adversarial as opposed to evil, a reflection of human pride and ego. At one point, Satan is called upon by Heaven to call out and act as witness to evil.

In the original Hewbrew, the words Satan and Devil, are translated as 'adversary.' The the word demon also is not in the original texts, the word 'devils' is used, which again refers to the adversaries of the Hebrew people. The Hebrew texts refer to Satan as the morning star, the most beautiful of Angels. His purpose is to tempt and call to light those weaknesses perceived by God as wicked. He doesn't really create evil but shines a spotlight upon it.

In the Bible, it is actually God that sends forth 'evil spirits' to afflict those he sees as wicked, not Satan. God also withdrawals his spirit from those whom he once favored, turning his back on them. Demons, or evil spirits, are weapons of punishment from God.

It's all a point of perception and translation and which version of the Bible used I guess.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

"If you think about it, the true nature of religion is the validation of a belief system regardless of the source, so one person's religion is another's mythology."

True. I had a friend once tell me that the actual meaning of myth has nothing to do with what is and isn't true. Just because it's called a myth doesn't mean it's not real.

"In the Bible, it is actually God that sends forth 'evil spirits' to afflict those he sees as wicked, not Satan."

Yeah, I think that an example of what Bible you read, translation and coming to understand what the Bible is really saying. God isn't going to send evil spirits to people who do wrong. He will remove his blessings from them, but it's our own acts and choices that invite evil into our lives. Really, for the most part, God doesn't need to do anything to punish us - we punish ourselves. Unless things get really bad, then we're talking wrath of God, pillars of fire and massive floods. But that kind of bad usually includes a massive group effort, and also chances to repent before punishment comes (Sodom and Gromorra - which I probably just spelled wrong - had several chances to be spared if just one righteous person could be found.)