New myths are being created today.

Some say that the creation of myth comparable to those found in the great traditions (Christianity, Islam and others) is impossible because these days every one has a camera. So if Moses, for example, claimed to parted the Red Sea today no one would believe it without evidence (and even if it were on camera it would be in question).

Are we now doomed to be without wonders and miracles in today’s skeptical, camera and Internet globalized, postmodern world?

No. I believe that miracles and unexplained phenomenon are happening at an even greater rate than our ancestors experienced. Only now, we catch them on our digital cameras and have creditable eye witness accounts.

UFOs, aliens and parapsychology are the new postmodern mythology. To be clear “myth” doesn’t always mean “untrue”.

myth: 2. A real or fictional story, recurring theme, or character type that appeals to the consciousness of people by embodying its cultural ideals or by giving expression to deep, common felt emotions. – Webster II New Riverside University Dictionary

Unlike prehistoric to promodern times, postmodernism allows you to believe and say whatever the hell you want because absolute truth has been annihilated.

Lets take a look at the evolution of “truth”.

Prehistory – Truth is given by stories passed by word of mouth via elders, shaman, tribe leaders and magical sources. (predates written history)

Ancient history – Truth is from belief in divine sources (leaders are conveniently god)
Beginning of written history (began about 33 Century B.C. as far as we know).

Premodernity – Truth is derived from authority. Authorities (royalty, priests) have divine right (500 A.D. – 1400 AD).

Modernity – Truth is dominated by science based on repeatable, physical evidence. Science chips away at religious/traditional ideas (i.e. world is flat, Earth is the center of the universe, religious wars and purges killed millions of people). Modernity is marked by creation of the printing press in 1400s in which more people had access to knowledge. Religious power began to fade. Science and technology begin to dominate. The modernity and unimpeded advancements of science saves millions from early death, disease and famine AND kills millions in conflicts, genocide and world wars.

Postmodernity – “Truth” is a matter of perspective. Postmodernity is marked by globalization. The cross breeding of traditions, sciences and religions make it obvious that our interpretations of reality have everything to do with cultural bias (i.e. Mahatmas Gandhi, a man who influenced peace around the world, hated black people, modern nations killed millions of people).

What we call “myths” today was considered a reality to the people of ancient history. The Spartans considered themselves the actual descendants of Hercules. We are taught today that Hercules was not real, but to those ancient people he and all the other gods were absolutely real.

Many of the myths of ancient people were based on some truth. The Great Flood is a myth that is repeated in Judaism/Christianity, Sumerians texts, Greek myth of Deukalion’s flood and others. The floods that they spoke of might have been different local floods that were equally cataclysmic that happened at different times. But for them it there was an actual great flood.

Scientists have put out their data unmoved by the trappings of religious dogma, and that is good. Modern science tends to throw out all information when a fraction is wrong. But then they go a step further by attempting to ridicule and marginalize anyone who entertains the thought that they believe they have just completely disproved. Their hypotheses and theories then become the very thing they have dismantled, dogma and religion. Richard Dawkin’s neo-atheist, scientism is very similar to intolerant and defensive attitudes seen in religious fundamentalism.

Groups (religious, scientific or national) all over the world attempt to reduce all knowledge to fit into their world. Whatever can not fit is thrown out, belittle, and demonized. Postmodernism points this out. It is like a five year old that blabs about the fattest person in the room, “MOM, SHE IS FAT!” Postmodernism is calling religion and modern science fat. And questioning all those claiming absolute truth. In this way it is dangerous. But at the same time it makes room for all the things that religion and science have tag teamed.

Things like parapsychology and ufology have room in postmodernism because it recognizes that truth has perspectives.