From earliest times humanity has sought to understand its place and role in the world, has sought for meaning. Wherever human beings are to be found myth, and extra-historical record of who we are, has always played a vital role in this regard, Traditional religion, by comparison, has only emerged in the last 2,500 years. This book summarizes the history of man's religious endeavors, and shows how much of religion, over time, has anything but aided its followers in their journey through life.
Because traditional religion is failing to meet our spiritual needs, people are moving from heteronomy to autonomy as they assume responsibility for their own journeys. A continuing survey, begun at the turn of the century, reveals that 36 percent of the participants believe that the American dream is achieved through spiritual fulfillment. A never ending stream of articles, in a variety of journals, bear witness to the this trend, as well as to the many new means now exercised in order to nourish one's spirituality. The relevance of myth has been renewed while that of religion is in decline in the West. Martin Luther's pronouncement, " Every man is a priest," is becoming a fact.