In ancient times, our ancestors began myth making as a way to explain the world, to explore the cycles of nature and humans…and also to acknowledge our connection with one another. Myths may or may not be factual, but they always convey truth. They map the cultural and spiritual evolution of humankind. They are the impetus for the organization and creation of civilizations. And myths also provide the foundations for world religions; infuse the ordinary with wonder and meaning; drive the urge to invent rituals; and ultimately, communicate transcendental ideas beyond words.
A great healing function of myth is to show us that we are not alone with our feelings, fears, conflicts, and aspirations. We are one part of a great story that is repeated over and over again throughout time. One of those stories is that of the Heroic Man/God. In our culture, he is Jesus, and in others, he has been Horus, Mithra, Krishna, Dionysus, and others.
Our concern is the story of Jesus. Sometime ago, it was reported in the news that the family tomb of Jesus may have been discovered. Authorities in the various organized Christian denominations rushed forward to dispute such a find. Imagine the threat of having one’s centuries-old belief system challenged! What happens if it is proven that Jesus did in fact have a wife and children? What does that do to Christianity as a whole? For some, it will be devastating, while for others, it will simply confirm their belief that the Jesus story is largely a myth. For some, it will expand the story that is already told.
In Unity, we tend to embrace a both/and stance. Nobody can dispute the stories of other cultures and their similarity to that of Jesus. At the same time, nobody can dispute the miracle stories of Jesus encounters that people continue to have to this day. What is the truth about the man and the myth? Is there a way to still have a relationship with the man Jesus, if, in fact, the story is part of a greater universal myth? Most Unity teachers I know would say, “Yes, absolutely.”
The Easter Season is a great time for each of us to discover our own beliefs and feelings about Jesus. I invite you to bring him into your meditation and prayer time and ask to know him better, along with the inner Christ. Hold that heart-based intention with faith, and you will experience your answer.
Love & blessings,
Rev. Kathy