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Og · 01-20-2007, 07:42 PM

I would recommend pretty much absolutely everything by joseph campbell.

I'd start with his videos since they're easy to digest. His "Mythos" Series is narrated by susan sarandon and is 10 hours of wonderful lectures with great images to go along that kind of span human mythology and the role it plays in our lives. You might be able to find a torrent for this one on the net somewhere. search: Joseph Campbell Mythos torrent or something.

Joseph Campbell is probably the greatest mythologist/theologian of our time. He consulted with George Lucas to create the "Force" for the original star wars movies and has a huge body of writing. His book "Hero with a thousand faces" is pretty much required reading for authors in any genre or type of media.

There's a shorter series of interviews between him and Bill Moyers that you CAN get on DVD called "The Power of Myth" and this seems to be what propelled him into popular culture.

I have a bunch of his books too. "Thou art That" is his discussion of christian symbology. "Myths of Light" is a wonderful tour of eastern spirituality and how it compares with western religion.

There's quite a few more, but all are good. I recommend trying to get your hands on a DVD if you can to get a taste and then start digging into the texts.

It will give you a great perspective on the history of myth and the similiarities in stories that have permeated mankind since 15000 BC or farther back. He was a professor of comparative mythology at a college in NY, I think, for something like 40 years.

When you see orpheus crucified and hear about the parallel death and ressurection motifs in our culture and how it correlates with the 3 days that the moon spends in it's "new moon" phase before being lit again and when you see the identical ideas and symbols expressed in the buddhist tradition 500 years before the christ story appears in the west, you'll just plaster yourself in the agnostic column and just enjoy life.

Campbell's main quote is simply: "Follow your bliss."

That's his personal philosophy.

01-20-2007, 07:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Og Campbellite Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northern, VA Posts: 2,926	I would recommend pretty much absolutely everything by joseph campbell. I'd start with his videos since they're easy to digest. His "Mythos" Series is narrated by susan sarandon and is 10 hours of wonderful lectures with great images to go along that kind of span human mythology and the role it plays in our lives. You might be able to find a torrent for this one on the net somewhere. search: Joseph Campbell Mythos torrent or something. Joseph Campbell is probably the greatest mythologist/theologian of our time. He consulted with George Lucas to create the "Force" for the original star wars movies and has a huge body of writing. His book "Hero with a thousand faces" is pretty much required reading for authors in any genre or type of media. There's a shorter series of interviews between him and Bill Moyers that you CAN get on DVD called "The Power of Myth" and this seems to be what propelled him into popular culture. I have a bunch of his books too. "Thou art That" is his discussion of christian symbology. "Myths of Light" is a wonderful tour of eastern spirituality and how it compares with western religion. There's quite a few more, but all are good. I recommend trying to get your hands on a DVD if you can to get a taste and then start digging into the texts. It will give you a great perspective on the history of myth and the similiarities in stories that have permeated mankind since 15000 BC or farther back. He was a professor of comparative mythology at a college in NY, I think, for something like 40 years. When you see orpheus crucified and hear about the parallel death and ressurection motifs in our culture and how it correlates with the 3 days that the moon spends in it's "new moon" phase before being lit again and when you see the identical ideas and symbols expressed in the buddhist tradition 500 years before the christ story appears in the west, you'll just plaster yourself in the agnostic column and just enjoy life. Campbell's main quote is simply: "Follow your bliss." That's his personal philosophy. __________________ Vi veri veniversum vivus vici. (By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe) The self is not a fixed entity but a dynamic process of relationships You & I, no distinction. - Tat Tvam Asi Become Who You Are