Myth

 ..a story that originated within a tradition.

So, what IS up with myths, and why are they so popular?  Why do we like to read them, and why oh why are they more exciting than life itself (well, for most people…my friends tell me I don’t need to make up fiction because my life is hilarious enough!  However, we’ll save my crazy escapades for another time).  

One thing that comes to mind is the simple fact that when you make up a myth you can make it fun and exciting. You can make up a really cool hero and give that hero the characteristics you want him/her to have.  When you are writing about what really happened, as in a newspaper story, a historical account, or a non-fiction story, you need to stick to the facts.  If a movie is an account of a true story, the details are supposed to be true and not embellished (r-i-g-h-t!).  

When you compare the two, it’s no wonder that we like myths more than history.  Myths are often glamorous and glorious.  Often some part of your own narrative is written into the story and so you have a deep connection to the myth.  If you are the one who invented the myth, often you will be the hero.  Let’s face it, who doesn’t want to be a hero.  

Here’s the kicker though.  The story that nullifies everything I just wrote.  The best story, the absolute greatest story ever is way better than any myth.  It’s also way better than anything we could make up.  See, this baby came, and he grew up to be really cool and he had his own gang and they loved him.  Then one day this creepy gang killed him, even though he was a really cool guy. He even said he was dying for them. What’s awesome is that he put the smack-down on everyone because he didn’t STAY dead.  He actually came back to life. 

Totally.  I mean, he was really dead one minute then he was alive the next.  

True story.

Better than myth.

History.

The greatest story EVER told.

The resurrection of Jesus.