Wendy Doniger’s Positive Definition of Myth

    Myth as a style of discourse is radically misunderstood by the literal-minded. Literal-mindedness, unfortunately, is a habit to which rational people above all are inclined. In this post, I present excerpts from a book by Chicago scholar Wendy Doniger entitled The Implied Spider: Politics and Theology in Myth (New York: Columbia University Press, 1998). The excerpts adumbrate a positive view of myth. Page numbers are given in brackets.