Troubling telling apart mythology from other Hindu and Shinto aspects

[sidetrack]

When I was little I remeber reading an Eric Carle illustrated book about mythology and the Garuda(a bird like being in the Hindu religion) appears in it.Years later when reading a book about mythology I think there was a section about “Hindu mythology”.Years later I found out that some dieties in Japan mythology also play a part in the Shinto relgion.I also know that in some forms of Buddhism there dieties and spirits even though Buddhism is a mainly non-theistic religion mainly concentrating on human nature and action.Why is that some aspects of the Hindu and Shinto religions seem to be categorized as mythology?.When is it that it would be categorized as this.Does anyone know?.Please i understand that I do not mean to offend anyone who practises any of these religions but I’m saying what I saw.

 

[Nine_Two]

Generally speaking it has been given this name in the West. I suppose a better name for it would be “Folklore”. Not all of what we call mythology is central to the religion, and many times there are multiple versions of the same story (one of Clement of Alexandria’s major issues with paganism in general). Without deep study it can often be hard to see what is theological (The story of Amatarasu in the cave) and what is just trying to explain something natural (any story pertaining to Tengu).