Mr. Kushguy, I get what you're saying.
I don't recall that as being one of Campbell's suppositions but I'm sure there is plenty about Campbell i don't know about.
Oh, yes, if you ever get the chance to watch his series of interviews before his death with Bill Moyers, definitely do so! You already know that he was raised, and
remained a Catholic, yes?
I do recall him mentioning we need new myths for a new age and it sounded like he was inferring more philosophical style over religious. But perhaps that was my bias showing while reading.
Yes, new myths for a new age, although he spoke more to the lack of "heroes" in our current mythology, and how people such as actors and sports figures have become so prominent in our society for reasons that defy previous logic as they haven't really "done" anything of note (certain sports figures excepted, but bear with me, we're working along classical lines here). Yet, as humans, we need them because we need SOMETHING.
However, he also discussed the ills we see in our current society and what factors have gone into creating the kinds of large scale issues we see today. To that he spoke of the role of religion in our evolution, not just as humans but as social beings. And after listening and reading (I was first introduced to Campbell in a college mythology class, also Black Elk, Jung.. hell, a few others whose names escape me) I realized that he may very well have been spot on!
Religion actually serves a purpose in guiding behavior.
Why do we need behavioral guidance?
In order that we may live together, be productive, not kill each other.
It's fascinating to me that, archaeologically speaking, the advent of religion, music, and art all appear to have occurred at about the same time. What happened to the human brain back then? I'm talking pre-
Homo sapiens, as in, say...
Homo erectus, at LEAST, and maybe even a little further back, as the hyphoid bones in many hominid fossils suggest speech was possible, if not likely, long before
H. sapiens. Our brains were already large, we were already making tools, likely already had the need for verbal communication (I believe we're going to end up pushing the dates for speech back), already lived in smaller familial groups.
That aside, it certainly appears that many people need and/or desire some kind of religion - though I would question its necessity.
Not I. It is apparent that it is needed for many people, and not just those who seek it. Remember that he used many parallels to support his ideas. He also worked things back to how we used to live, how we've actually spent more of our time, which was NOT in these incredibly huge cities, which anonymize us as individuals. What happens when a person becomes anonymous within their own community? There are no checks and balances on behavior.
For a time, I felt that education would be the key to eliminating reliance on higher powers but smart people that need religion are very good and justifying believing in things for not-so-smart reasons.
And there are those who would say that education is the new means to controlling the masses.
But, here's the thing that most folks, especially those in the "its only purpose is to control the masses" camp, don't consider -- what happens when we don't have any guidelines? We end up with people who don't understand morals, ethics, or even really CARE, because suddenly there are no consequences for their actions. They are anonymous, and act with impunity. That is not to say that the role of religion is punishment, that is the role of whatever society an individual may find themselves. The mores, standards, and guidelines, however, used to be defined via religion.
Oh Jesus, email! I almost forgot to add that Joseph Campbell, in his early years, was good friends with one J. Steinbeck and the man who was Steinbeck's "muse" of sorts, and the basis for his Doc character in Cannery Row, Ed Ricketts. What most folks don't know or appreciate is the role Ricketts played not only in marine research, but in ecology and taxonomic classification of organisms. He and Steinbeck actually spent many years exploring the coast, down as far south as the Sea of Cortez (of which Steinbeck wrote a book). and Campbell spent some time with them in the late 30s. And it was during the time he spent with them that he began to formulate some of his early ideas.
Many marine organisms have "rickettsi" as their special (specie) name, too.
