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Interestingly, Swedenborg had his own explanation for these universal
myths, which is highly relevant to the topic at hand. Far from a coincidence,
he believed that all of these myths could be traced to a single source: the same
Ancient Word discussed above. This explanation is surprisingly compelling to
me, but my own study leads me to believe that it is taken too literally.
If the myths of Ancient Greece, Egypt and India are based off remaining
fragments of a literal and physical Ancient Word, then what of the myths of the
Americas – and more specifically, the Mayan Popol Vuh?
When viewed symbolically, however, Swedenborg’s explanation is virtually
indistinguishable from Jung’s archetypal theory, but for the belief in Divine
revelation. In that case, the movement from the Golden Age to the Silver Age
represents a shift in human consciousness development, or perhaps the birth
of true human freedom.
With this change, a new Divine revelation must be given to humanity –
now in the form of written language. In this way, the Ancient Word – as an
intermediary stage between the oral tradition and written language – is indeed
the source of the ancient mythologies of Greece, Egypt and India. It is also the
source of the Popol Vuh.
Works Cited:
Holy Bible, New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers,
1982.
Levi-Strauss, Claude. “The Story of Asdiwal.” Sacred Narrative. Ed. Dundes,
Alan. London: Oxford University of California Press, 1984. 295-314.
Rose, Jonathan S., et al. Scribe of Heaven: Swedenborg’s Life, Work, and Impact.
West Chester, PA: Swedenborg Foundation, 2005.
Tedlock, Dennis, trans. The Popol Vuh: The Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life.
New York: Touchstone, 1996.
Warren, Samuel M. A Compendium of the Theological Writings of Emanuel
Swedenborg. West Chester, PA: Swedenborg Foundation, 2009.
Dylan C. Odhner graduated from the Academy Boys School
in 2005 and Bryn Athyn College in 2009. He has worked for
the College and is in his first year teaching in the Academy
Secondary Schools. He is enrolled in a PhD program focusing
on Comparative Mythology and Depth Psychology at Pacifica
Graduate Institute. Contact: [email protected]
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