In this episode, we explore the convergence and divergence between science, mythology and folklore. We read a version of the story of why the tortoise has a cracked shell. There are multiple versions of this story which, to me, speaks to our ability as humans to hold a multiplicity of ideas even if contradictory. We also talk about the limitations of taking too hard a stance on one viewpoint, be it "folkloric/mythologic/cultural/spiritual" or "scientific", since no viewpoint contains all the truth. Also, mythology, folklore, culture and spirituality often serve different purposes from science. For example, in the case of earthquakes and other natural disasters (which prompted this session), there are hard scientific explanations but those don't always offer people the emotional/psychological relief they need in the way cultural/spiritual beliefs do when such large-scale tragedies strike.
Some questions I ask myself as I sort through these matters:
1. Whether I look at it from a cultural/spiritual or scientific standpoint, how is my understanding of the issue leading me to care for myself and others?
2. How is it affecting my understanding of planet Earth as an entity in her own right, with her own processes and cycles which sometimes have absolutely nothing to do with human behavior and other times, are the direct result of human behavior?
3. Am I leaving enough space for new information or do I have a death grip on what I believe is right?
A thread with some suggestions on how to read Mythology and Folklore.
Science, Mythology & Folklore