Month: February 2026

Where Can We Find Modern Mythology?

Building a mythology is a way that we can make sense of the world around us. What does a modern mythology look like?

The ancient Greeks used mythology to explain everyday life. The sun, for example, was actually the fiery wheel of a great chariot that Apollo rode across the sky each day.

Any number of gods, demi-gods, and heroes made up this mythology, much of which can still be found today. The labors of Hercules, the infighting of the Greek pantheon of gods, or the story of the Trojan horse live on in today’s society. There are translations of the Iliad and the Odyssey from Homer that are still in print, for instance, or the hugely popular Percy Jackson stories from author Rick Riordon, recently adapted to a Disney TV series.

And it is not just the Greeks, of course. The Romans, which borrowed heavily from the Greeks for their own mythology, were also influential. The names of the planets and satellites in our solar system largely come from these mythological sources. Jupiter, the leader of the Roman gods, is the name given to the largest planet. The red planet is named Mars, after the fiery Roman god of war.

Each culture has their own mythology. Other notable ones from history include the Norse, Egyptians, Japanese, and so on.

So then what makes up our modern mythology? What are the stories that we tell ourselves that allow us to make sense of our current world and the challenges and victories we experience? What in our society will future historians point to as the equivalent to the mythologies of yesteryear?

Related questions: What are the benefits of fiction? What role do sports play in our society? History or current events? What is art? How do you adopt new ideas?

Instant Action Or Deliberation?

When there is an action you need to take, are you more likely to do it right away, or deliberate about it at length first?

Share why if you wish.

Instant Action Or Deliberation?
Results

Which Olympic Sport Would You Be Best At?

The Olympics can be fun to watch due to the wide variety in sports available, many quite uncommon. Is there one you think you would be good at?

Share why if you wish.

How Do You Prepare For A Crisis?

The sad reality is that each of us will face a crisis — or even more than one — over our lifetime. What, if anything, have you done to prepare?

Climate change threatens all of us. Rising sea water, stronger storms, weather disruption, even species extinction are all possible consequences of runway global warming. What might you do to be ready for this future?

But maybe you don’t think this is a serious threat, or you have confidence that we will address this problem before it becomes too serious.

The western coast of the United States is due for a major earthquake. Tectonic plates have been shifting, building up energy, the release of which could flood entire cities, impacting millions of people. What can individuals do to prepare for this eventuality?

But maybe you don’t live there, or know anybody who does.

Artificial Intelligence could very well reshape our entire society over the next decade or two. The worst case scenario would see mass layoffs and a collapse of the job market. And that doesn’t include the possibility of A.I. becoming self-aware, and the dangers that might pose. Are there steps that could be taken with this in mind?

Even if you discount any one of these possibilities, it seems like one or more of them could very well happen. Another financial Great Depression, a global pandemic, a meteor strike from the heavens, the rise of dictators across the globe threatening another world war, any of these could happen. Or something we haven’t thought of could catch us by surprise.

But we shouldn’t simply react. We can anticipate bad things, and prepare ourselves for them. So: How do you prepare for a crisis?

Related questions: What is the greatest problem facing humanity? How do we prepare for the next pandemic? Should we try to predict the future? How can we turn sadness into constructive action?

 

Cognitive Dissonance Or Hypocrisy?

When someone holds two conflicting ideas in mind at once, do you think it is likely to be intentional hypocrisy? Or are they simply a victim of cognitive dissonance? How does this apply to you?

Share why if you wish.

Cognitive Dissonance Or Hypocrisy?
Results