Myth, Ideology and Changing Society

Abstract

This essay on myth, ideology and a changing society is a continuation of the article on “Myth in a changing world” I published in 1956. Now as well as then, my starting point is the experience I gained during an investigation of the connection between society and religion in the inlands of West Timor (Indonesia). While investigating the relation between myth and social-political structure, the following phenomena struck me. In the first place, I found that the former dominant group of a realm, which had encompassed various tribes and peoples in the past but was no longer in existence, still showed such a strong influence by means of the central myth of that realm on the social-political thoughts and activities of all groups concerned. I was also impressed by the endeavours of other groups to distantiate themselves from the central myth handed down from the past and their efforts to legitimate their independent position through their own myth. It also happened that people tried to claim a higher position than previously occupied by making changes in the myth of their group. This occurred in the years round 1940, when the possibility already existed in that remote area -- and was actually advocated by some young people -- to reject the old myths, at least as norms for the contemporary and future social-political situation.