For those who support the supernatural idea of a "collective unconscious" between all humans (and maybe even all forms of life) the basis for the claim is at least partly based on the idea that it would be impossible otherwise for different ancient populations to have developed similar myths. They assert that the lives of these separated groups were too different to have resulted in myths that have so many commonalities. I find this an untenable position that overlooks the fact that human life on this planet is necessarily similar in most major respects. Here are a few:
1) All humans tend to live for about as long as everyone else. There are no cases of individuals, or groups of individuals, living for hundreds or thousands of years.
2) The sky contains the sun, the moon, stars and planets no matter from where it is viewed.
3) We all know that fire destroys, provides light and produces heat.
4) Water is always located in rivers, lakes and oceans that all have the same basic traits.
5) Water falls from the sky everywhere; clouds are missing from no place on the planet.
6) The experience of a steady cycle of light and darkness is universal.
7) Animals are easily divided between those that swim in water, fly through the air, and walk on the ground.
8) There are constant threats of injury or death from other humans and animals.
9) No human population as a unique birth process.
10) All animals have blood.
11) There are always two sexes.
12) Every human (and other animals) needs to sleep regularly.
13) Some plants are poisonous to us; some are hallucinogens.
14) We all have hair.
15) We all discovered the usefulness of tools.
16) We all are susceptible to getting sick--and getting better.
17) We all walk on two legs, upright.
18) We all argue and fight.
19) Children grow up at about the same rate.
20) We all experience wind and changes in temperature.
21) We all figure out what floats and what sinks in water.
22) We all dream.
23) We all have some sort of marriage/family structure that is recognized by everyone else.
24) We all need to eat and drink to survive (also experiencing thirst and hunger), and do so on a similar schedule as everyone else.
25) No one is exempt from pain.
26) When someone is noticeably different from the rest of the group, that difference is not ignored.
27) We all use language.
28) Objects fall to the ground (don't float or move sideways).
29) We all have sex drives and go through puberty.
30) We all have parents.
Given these commonalities (among many others), it would be bizarre if our ancestors' myths were any less common than they are. There are obviously differences between groups of people, too, but we have many more basic things in common--many of them so simple and basic that we often don't notice them--making the commonalities between myths no mystery at all.
1) All humans tend to live for about as long as everyone else. There are no cases of individuals, or groups of individuals, living for hundreds or thousands of years.
2) The sky contains the sun, the moon, stars and planets no matter from where it is viewed.
3) We all know that fire destroys, provides light and produces heat.
4) Water is always located in rivers, lakes and oceans that all have the same basic traits.
5) Water falls from the sky everywhere; clouds are missing from no place on the planet.
6) The experience of a steady cycle of light and darkness is universal.
7) Animals are easily divided between those that swim in water, fly through the air, and walk on the ground.
8) There are constant threats of injury or death from other humans and animals.
9) No human population as a unique birth process.
10) All animals have blood.
11) There are always two sexes.
12) Every human (and other animals) needs to sleep regularly.
13) Some plants are poisonous to us; some are hallucinogens.
14) We all have hair.
15) We all discovered the usefulness of tools.
16) We all are susceptible to getting sick--and getting better.
17) We all walk on two legs, upright.
18) We all argue and fight.
19) Children grow up at about the same rate.
20) We all experience wind and changes in temperature.
21) We all figure out what floats and what sinks in water.
22) We all dream.
23) We all have some sort of marriage/family structure that is recognized by everyone else.
24) We all need to eat and drink to survive (also experiencing thirst and hunger), and do so on a similar schedule as everyone else.
25) No one is exempt from pain.
26) When someone is noticeably different from the rest of the group, that difference is not ignored.
27) We all use language.
28) Objects fall to the ground (don't float or move sideways).
29) We all have sex drives and go through puberty.
30) We all have parents.
Given these commonalities (among many others), it would be bizarre if our ancestors' myths were any less common than they are. There are obviously differences between groups of people, too, but we have many more basic things in common--many of them so simple and basic that we often don't notice them--making the commonalities between myths no mystery at all.
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