I wanted to start a blog entitled “Peace Mill”—and not just because I liked the pun.
Being an un-peaceful person, I have dedicated my life to finding peace. When I hear of conflict anywhere, near or far, I’m troubled because I understand the pain of opposition.
To write about peace would be to learn about peace. What could be more important?
But after two entries, I’ve stopped adding to “Peace Mill”. Because of a dream.
In the dream, I’m mixing a concoction in a plastic pitcher—getting ready to cook something. The pitcher is exactly like one I use in my kitchen. The handle broke off long ago, but the pitcher is still functional. I can still grip it.
I set the pitcher down, then put another right beside it. I plan to transfer the mixture from first pitcher to the second.
But the pitchers look exactly the same—they’re the same size and have the same broken handle.
If the pitchers are exactly the same, why switch the mix from one to the other?
I knew the dream mirrored some situation in my waking life. What was I cooking up?
Well, I’d just started the new blog.
But was the Peace Mill blog just the same as the Myth Steps blog? Is searching for the new mythology the same as searching for peace? Would I be putting the same ingredients into each?
Well, any mythology must help us deal with conflict, with conflict on all levels—conflict within the individual as well as conflict among the peoples of this world.
But must we create a new mythology in order to create peace?
Well, our belief systems must help us guide us toward peace. If we’re unable to create the peace we so desperately need at this time, then perhaps we need a change of belief—a coherent system of ideas and values that can be passed on, from one generation to the next, a system that will endure through the ages.
So…
…I guess I don’t need two separate blogs—one for peace and one for the new mythology, the new system of belief.
Maybe I don’t have a good “handle” on things right now. Nonetheless, according to this dream, I can still get a grip on the situation—enough of a grip to cook something up.
Michael Patton
Myth Steps (& peace mill) 
I thought what a ‘mythology’ needed to do was to be sufficiently true to experience as to illuminate life. Applying it so as to avoid conflict would be a desirable use; but I’d say:
You may be able to use a map to stay out of ditches. But a map’s primary function is helping people find their way where they want to go.
So, what kind of landscape are we in, here? Are there landmarks in sight?
I would suspect that once a mythology is borne true, it ceases to be a mythology (note that being proved false does not do the same). So the key would be to establish a mythology which can never be proved true or untrue. Otherwise the mythology will die before it can run its 10,000 year course.
This would only leave the choice of whether or not this surviving invettable mythology is reductionist, or fanciful (both are still a religion).
And therein we have our artificial device of two camps of atheists and grandfather god types. Two oppressive memes which demand allegiance to one or the other, as if there were only two options at your avail (when there is an entire universe of other possibilities in reality). A choice which only results in pain and deception and an enormously confused and polarized populace.
So I would say that mythology is a door painted with the word ‘peace,’ upon who’s entry results in division and war.
It is OK to dwell in the dichotomy of simultaneously fervently seeking truth, and declaring at the same time that “I do not know” – and be happy with that statement.
Just my thoughts…. 8)