LLEA 4/30/15
Myth: Making Sense of Nonsense
According to LESSA AND VOGT (Reader in Compar. Rel.: An Anthropological Approach p.
142) (Myths) “…are sacred stories handed down through the generations, either by word of
mouth or through books. Such stories are usually of crucial importance in providing explanations
of how human life came to be as it is, and in providing justifications for the efficacy of
ceremonials and rituals. On the other hand, there are always prescribed ways of carrying on
religious acts and procedures, ways of worshipping, praying, changing, sacrificing, making
offerings, and so on, that are called `rituals’ (Ceremonials may be looked upon as simple
dramatized rituals). In brief, the beliefs are found in myths; the practices are prescribed in
rituals.”
