When I think of myth, the first word that comes to mind is folklore; culturally specific stories that attempt to make sense of concepts that could not be explained with logic and reason. Religion is a moral code shared by a group of people as opposed to a collection stories that explain natural phenomena. In today’s world, we would explain ( or attempt to explain) those same concepts using science. However, I believe there are instances in which we use myth today. We can see the use of myth in some holiday rituals and stories that have Pagan origins (i.e. Santa Claus.) I find myth interesting, because it shows how a particular culture views the world around them. People might study myth in order to see the differences or ,perhaps, similarities between cultures.
After ruminating on Armstrong’s words, I see that there is not a great deal of difference between religion and myth. Religions seemed to be rooted in myth. Armstrong states, ” religious stories are almost always mythological.” Myth is not just mere explanation of natural phenomena through story, but rather a way to tackle the more difficult questions of human existence. Myth also demonstrates how we, as humans, should behave. These things make myth very similar to religion with the main difference being the rift between the divine and the profane.
Hum 115: World Mythology 