Myths are literally true

Most people attempting to explain the purpose of mythology mistakenly assume that these stories are mere fiction. Sure, some people concede that these ancient “fairy tales” can be metaphorically significant or culturally unifying, but few entertain the notion that the events described in myths actually happened. Despite this, many modern religions believe in the literal reality of the gods, goddesses, spirits, and monsters of ancient mythology. What some people consider myths, others consider literal reality that serves as the Scripture of their given religion. For instance, Hellenism, a polytheistic pagan religion, maintains that the Greek gods praised by ancient cultures still exist today and that as humans, our actions can win or lose their favor. Similarly, modern practitioners of Asatru believe in Norse gods and praise them with public ceremonies and private offerings. Native Americans from all over the country have held fast to their beliefs in deities revered in centuries-old myths. To all of these people, myths are far more than mere entertainment or metaphors. Rather, they are literal reflections of supernatural deities who interact with humans in significant (if often mysterious) ways.