Storytelling is a tradition as old and mysterious as humanity itself. When we write stories, even if they seem to have no direct connection to our lives, we project our personal beliefs and standards onto the page. When we read or tell stories, we gain the knowledge that others posses to further help synthesize our individual views on life and reality. As humans, we are on a constant journey of intellectual growth; we're naturally curious and hungry for understanding. Moyers is explaining that storytelling and myths are a tool with which humans come to understand the eternal and mysterious powers of the universe. Stories give us the opportunity to gain vast amounts of knowledge about life without actually experiencing the events themselves. Through storytelling, we can live the life of the ideal human or "hero", and learn valuable life lessons. Much like the hero must find the power within to follow what he/she/it believes, we must all decide as individuals what we believe is right, wrong and true.
Humanity would be lost without stories and myths. People are always searching for something to believe in because it's the only way to rationalize the world and give life a purpose. This "purpose" in life can't be realized by anyone but one's self. This is not to say that religion does not help people find this purpose, but it's unique to everyone. This is partly why people get so angry when their personal religion is attacked in any way: it's not just the religion itself that's under attack, people's most fundamental beliefs on life, death, the universe and reality are under fire--beliefs that if taken away, would leave a person lost and without purpose. The Bible, for example, has given countless people the courage to enjoy life to it's fullest, simply because it makes sense of the universe. And while I don't personally follow all the teachings of the Bible, I follow other assorted stories and myths. For the most part though, my beliefs are my own, and are not dictated to me by a single source. I take things from here and there and create my own beliefs on life, death and the universe. This is just a personal choice, not to say it's right or wrong. Whatever belief brings one peace, as long as it isn't harmful to others, is what should be followed.
I completely agree with how religion is mostly a tool to help people rationalize the world and that in turn allows them to live life to the absolute fullest. Religion sets the ground work for people's fundamental beliefs and then lets them expand using their own personal feelings to different subjects. I also agree with that even the most religious person is not just strictly guided word for word by the Bible or any other text they may follow because every single person, whether they realize it or not, interprets a verse or a story in their own unique way. Everyone does this because every single person has had different experiences and is completely different from the next causing us to react in unique ways to different topics and circumstances. This is why their can be discussion groups on the Bible and you have people saying a certain verse can be interpreted in multiple ways. All the Bible or other religious texts do is give people the groundwork to explain the unexplainable, preventing us from going crazy in search of the truth.
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