Myths & Legends Day: Entertained, Not Enchanted

Stories have always been how humanity explains the mysteries of the world. From ancient myths to modern legends, these tales endure because they fascinate us, entertain us, and sometimes even reveal deeper truths.

But here’s the thing: I don’t have to believe in them to enjoy them.

As a Christian, I can (and do) read myths and legends without compromising my faith — and I’d like to share why.

I know some Christians might raise an eyebrow when I say I enjoy myths and legends. But I’ve learned that enjoying them doesn’t mean embracing them as truth.

Each believer needs to decide for themselves what they can handle.

For some, these stories might feel disruptive to their faith. For me, they don’t. In fact, when I read myths, I sometimes laugh at their colorful storytelling, and other times I see echoes that point me back to my own faith.

Even the Apostle Paul recognized this when he spoke in Athens about the “unknown god” (Acts 17). Other cultures acknowledged divine power — they just lacked understanding of the one true God.

I was raised by a devout Christian mother who also loved stories — the kind that shimmered with magic, myth, and Old Hollywood wonder.

From an early age, I knew all about Zeus and Medusa, vampires and werewolves, mermaids and unicorns. But never once did that knowledge confuse me. I never doubted that Jehovah alone was God. Those stories were simply that — stories — and they were pure entertainment in our home.

Some of my fondest memories are of us popping popcorn and curling up on the couch to watch old movies like Jason and the Argonauts or modern adventure tales like The Mummy.

Later, she introduced me to Carnival of Souls and Night of the Living Dead. Personally, I enjoyed the eerie charm of Carnival of Souls, but Night of the Living Dead? I couldn’t get through it without rolling my eyes. I know it’s hailed as the grandfather of zombie films, but if that’s how the craze started, I’m still scratching my head over its appeal!

Today, myths and legends are just as fun to weave into my own stories as they were to watch back then. To write about certain characters, I have to understand the myths that inspired them. It’s a form of creative research — one that lets me honor ancient imagination while keeping my faith firmly intact.

Not all legends are lighthearted. Modern culture often leans toward the macabre: vampires, werewolves, zombies.

Mmm. Brains. So tasty. (Yuck!)

As we near yet another Halloween — a time when horror movies reign supreme and people decorate their homes with the macabre (and themselves as bloodsuckers or brain-munchers) — I can’t help but wonder: Why do these stories grip us so much?

I think I’ve found the answer.

They reflect society’s longing for eternal life, for victory over death, for freedom from sickness. But they offer it in gory, grotesque ways.

The irony? Christianity offers the same longings fulfilled — without the horror.

Jesus healed the sick, walked on water, even conquered death. And He promised His followers we would do “greater things” (John 14:12).

I don’t need vampires to offer me immortality. I already have eternal life through Christ.

(And following Him doesn’t necessitate eating someone’s brains!)

That doesn’t mean I reject myths altogether.

I love stories of the Greek and Roman gods, sea legends like the Kraken, or mythical beings like mermaids.

They’re entertaining — and sometimes even useful as story material for my novels.

Go ahead and giggle at Zeus turning into a stream of gold to impregnate Danaë. Roll your eyes when Artemis curses a poor mortal who stumbled across her bath. These stories aren’t guides for living; they’re just tales spun to amuse, explain, or warn.

And sometimes, buried in the exaggeration, you’ll find a “moral of the story.”

But don’t confuse myth with reality. No, you won’t stumble across mermaids on your next beach trip. They belong to the realm of story — and that’s perfectly fine.

If you want to celebrate this October 11, you don’t have to go big.

Here are some simple ideas:

It’s a day to let yourself be entertained, not enchanted. To learn, laugh, and maybe even find parallels that enrich your own worldview.