All Myths Are True: Difference between revisions

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The intention of labeling something important a myth is to build excitement so that when the legend is proved true a while later it brings a sense of wonder or discovery.

[[And Man Grew Proud]], [[Domino Revelation]], and [[Prophecies Are Always Right]] are [[Sub Trope|SubTropes]] of this. [[Crossover Cosmology]] deals with the theological aspect. Take it to extremes, and you end up with the [[Fantasy Kitchen Sink]]. For versions where the myth is ''based'' on truth but people got the details wrong, see [[God Guise]], [[Cargo Cult]], [[Ancient Astronauts]], [[Physical God]], [[Sufficiently Advanced Aliens]], and [[A God Am I]]. For characters who might live in a world where [[All Myths Are True]] and despite solid evidence don't believe it, see [[Flat Earth Atheist]]. If this treatment is given to only one pantheon/religion/what-have-you, see [[A Mythology Is True]]. For the [[Sci Fi Counterpart|scientific counterpart]], see [[All Theories Are True]]. For the video game rumor counterpart, see [[Infallible Babble]]. Someone with the tendency to exclaim "That can't exist!" in one of these settings my suffer from [[Arbitrary Skepticism]].

[[And Man Grew Proud]], [[Domino Revelation]], and [[Prophecies Are Always Right]] are [[Sub-Trope|SubTropes]] of this. [[Crossover Cosmology]] deals with the theological aspect. Take it to extremes, and you end up with the [[Fantasy Kitchen Sink]]. For versions where the myth is ''based'' on truth but people got the details wrong, see [[God Guise]], [[Cargo Cult]], [[Ancient Astronauts]], [[Physical God]], [[Sufficiently Advanced Aliens]], and [[A God Am I]]. For characters who might live in a world where [[All Myths Are True]] and despite solid evidence don't believe it, see [[Flat Earth Atheist]]. If this treatment is given to only one pantheon/religion/what-have-you, see [[A Mythology Is True]]. For the [[Sci Fi Counterpart|scientific counterpart]], see [[All Theories Are True]]. For the video game rumor counterpart, see [[Infallible Babble]]. Someone with the tendency to exclaim "That can't exist!" in one of these settings my suffer from [[Arbitrary Skepticism]].

Not to be confused with [[Clap Your Hands If You Believe]] (and its sub-trope [[Gods Need Prayer Badly]]), where believing in a myth ''makes'' it true. [[One Myth to Rule Them All]] is if they all stem from the same source (aliens, wizards, etc).

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** I Ching also has a truth, as do other "impossibilities".

* In ''Rainbow Mars'' by [[Larry Niven]], all of the Martian legends are true, from H. 'G. Wells to Edgar Rice Burroughs.

* [[Robert E Howard]]'s ''[[Conan the Barbarian]]'' has a number of gods that would, in Howard's [[The Verse|world]] become the basis of more modern deities. Crom, Lir, Babd, Macha and Nemain are all Celtic, the Hyborian Mitra becomes [~~http~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Mithra Mithra], who's also something of a [[Crystal Dragon Jesus]], the Shemite Ishtar becomes the Babylonian [~~http~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Ishtar Ishtar], the Turanian/Hyrkanian Erlik becomes the Mongolian [~~http~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Erlik Erlik] and the Stygian Set seems to be the basis for both the Egyptian [~~http~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_~~(mythology) Set] and [~~http~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Apep Apep]

* [[Robert E Howard]]'s ''[[Conan the Barbarian]]'' has a number of gods that would, in Howard's [[The Verse|world]] become the basis of more modern deities. Crom, Lir, Babd, Macha and Nemain are all Celtic, the Hyborian Mitra becomes [[wikipedia:Mithra|Mithra]], who's also something of a [[Crystal Dragon Jesus]], the Shemite Ishtar becomes the Babylonian [[wikipedia:Ishtar|Ishtar]], the Turanian/Hyrkanian Erlik becomes the Mongolian [[wikipedia:Erlik|Erlik]] and the Stygian Set seems to be the basis for both the Egyptian [[wikipedia:Set (mythology)|Set]] and [[wikipedia:Apep|Apep]]

* [[John C Wright]] specializes in this: both his ''[[War of the Dreaming (Literature)|War of the Dreaming]]'' and ''[[Chronicles of Chaos (Literature)|Orphans of Chaos]]'' series have appearances by every figure in ancient [[Norse Mythology|lore]] and [[Greek Mythology|myth]].

* [[The Dalemark Quartet]] by [[Diana Wynne Jones]] features its own in-universe pantheon and myths, all of which are far more real than people believe (and far more factual than recorded history).

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== Live Action TV ==

* The entire premise of ''[[The X-Files (TV)|The X-Files]]''.

* In the 2000s ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined ~~(TV)~~|Battlestar Galactica]]'', the humans and Cylon androids both have their own, conflicting, sets of prophecies regarding their mutual future. Series creator Ron Moore has implied in [[Word of God|interviews]] that ''both'' visions will prove to be true.

* In the 2000s ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined|Battlestar Galactica]]'', the humans and Cylon androids both have their own, conflicting, sets of prophecies regarding their mutual future. Series creator Ron Moore has implied in [[Word of God|interviews]] that ''both'' visions will prove to be true.

** It's possible that the same power was interpreted as a singular god by the Cylons, and multiple deities by the people of the Colonies. In the end, an agent of this higher power reminds another that it doesn't like being called "God", implying that neither perception is entirely true.

** As Baltar says in the finale (paraphrased), "Call it God, the gods, a higher power we can't hope to understand, doesn't matter. It exists." In fact, one of the strong threads running through the series is that the Colonials and Cylons have more in common than they'd like to admit, and neither has an exclusive on the truth.

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** [[Running Gag|"So, you're a soul stealing demon? What's that like?"]]

* One of the [[Tales of the Gold Monkey]] ("Legends Are Forever") had Jack Cutter run into an old flying 'buddy' who had the annoying habit of getting him involved in ill-fated searches for legendary treasure in the constant belief that "All legends are based on fact." He assures Jack that this time he's just on a mercy mission, which has nothing to do with a lost African tribe on an island in the South Pacific...

* In any ''[[~~Doctor Who (TV)|~~Doctor Who]]'' episode, if an alien or a colonist mentions myths of a monster lurking in the ______, the Doctor and his companion(s) ''will'' run into it.

* In any ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode, if an alien or a colonist mentions myths of a monster lurking in the ______, the Doctor and his companion(s) ''will'' run into it.

** Not to mention that the Doctor has met a werewolf, the Loch Ness Monster, sort-of witches, Satan, and just about any other mythical person you can imagine. Oh yes, and he himself is Merlin.

** River invokes this at the end of "Flesh and Stone" when she mentions the Pandorica, which the Doctor dismisses as just a story. "Oh Doctor, aren't we all?"

** In the episode, "The Pandorica Opens", the Doctor went from "The Pandorica? That's just a legend!" to "So, this is the Pandorica" at unintentionally comical speed.

*** The rest of the episode at the very least hints that the Pandorica {{spoiler|was built by 'The Alliance' based on Amy Pond's memories of her favourite book, Pandora's Box, making this only really APPEAR to be an example of this Trope. In fact, considering the whole point of the scenario 'The Alliance' created, this was probably the intended effect, to try and make the Doctor too interested in what the Pandorica could really be to notice what else is going on around him (And it worked)}}.

* ''[[Torchwood (TV)|Torchwood]]'' showed that fairies were real. And alien. When the Doctor on ''Torchwood'''s parent show ''[[~~Doctor Who (TV)|~~Doctor Who]]'' was questioned about "Fairy land" he scoffed. He then went on to say Fairy land looks completely different.

* ''[[Torchwood (TV)|Torchwood]]'' showed that fairies were real. And alien. When the Doctor on ''Torchwood'''s parent show ''[[Doctor Who]]'' was questioned about "Fairy land" he scoffed. He then went on to say Fairy land looks completely different.

* On ''[[Supernatural (TV)|Supernatural]]'' this is occasionally used as a test to see if people are real hunters. It's well known that [[All Myths Are True]], except Bigfoot. And unicorns.

** So far, [[Alien Tropes|aliens]] have yet to appear. However, the episode "Clap Your Hands If You Believe" suggests that most (of not all) aliens sightings, abductions, and crop circles [[Mistaken for Aliens|turned out to have been]] {{spoiler|[[The Fair Folk|fairies]]}}.

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* Both ''[[Persona 2]]'' games. After all, that was a big plot point!

** In the ''[[Persona (Video Game)|Persona]]'' series, it can be taken that no myths are true, at least the ones concerning the Personas. The Personas, and the myths associated with them, were all created by the human mind and that is why they and humans are one and the same. At least that is what Igor says.

*** Although this gets warped a little in ''[[Persona 4 (Video Game)|Persona 4]]'' when the [[True Final Boss]] turns out to be {{spoiler|Izanami}}. You even learn the names of [[The Very Definitely Final Dungeon]], {{spoiler|her}} [[One-Hit Kill]] spell, and the [[Eleventh Hour Superpower]] you use to win in class.

*** Although this gets warped a little in ''[[Persona 4 (Video Game)|Persona 4]]'' when the [[True Final Boss]] turns out to be {{spoiler|Izanami}}. You even learn the names of [[The Very Definitely Final Dungeon]], {{spoiler|her}} [[One-Hit Kill]] spell, and the [[Eleventh-Hour Superpower]] you use to win in class.

* In ''[[Cave Story (Video Game)|Cave Story]]'', you're told that a mimiga that eats a red flower dies right away. It's an urban legend to keep the Mimigas from being tempted into eating them - what happens in reality is much worse.

* A set of daily quests in ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' has you investigate myths about maidens granting powerful swords if done a favor. Naturally, all three of them turn out to be true.

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== Real Life ==

* A popular idea from ancient times up through the middle ages was that all the Greek Gods were really prehistoric kings whose followers established cults in their honor. The idea was first officially proposed by [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/~~Euhemerism#Euhemerism Euhemerus].

* A popular idea from ancient times up through the middle ages was that all the Greek Gods were really prehistoric kings whose followers established cults in their honor. The idea was first officially proposed by [[wikipedia:Euhemerism#Euhemerism|Euhemerus]].

** Many modern scholars actually think this may have been vaguely true to some extent. For evidence they point out that the line between gods and mortals was heavily blurred - there were cults devoted to mortals and there were mortals who later became gods (see Hercules, Asclepius, Psyche, Ganymede, etc).

** Related to this was [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/Interpretatio_graeca~~ Interpretatio Graeca] - the idea that a god from another culture was actually just an aspect of a Greek god. Curiously, this theory may also have some truth to it. It seems that very distantly related societies did have very similar gods. For instance, the Romans had "Jupiter" / "Dispater", and ancient India had "Dyaus Pitar".

** Related to this was [[wikipedia:Interpretatio graeca|Interpretatio Graeca]] - the idea that a god from another culture was actually just an aspect of a Greek god. Curiously, this theory may also have some truth to it. It seems that very distantly related societies did have very similar gods. For instance, the Romans had "Jupiter" / "Dispater", and ancient India had "Dyaus Pitar".

* According to largely discredited historians, [[Adolf Hitler]] believed this to some extent - hence accounts of [[Those Wacky Nazis]] [[Ghostapo|sent on expeditions searching for the]] [[Hellboy (Comic Book)|Spear of Destiny]], [[Indiana Jones (Franchise)|the Holy Grail]]...

** There's slightly better evidence for certain ranking Nazis (notably Himmler) believing ''Some'' Myths Are True.

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* One can pretty much be a Buddhist and anything else including an atheist. The only reason you can't be Buddhist and a Christian/Jew/Muslim is that these religions are exclusionary and won't let you.

** Which is actually a misconception, especially when one considers the historical relationship between Buddhism and Hinduism.

*** And Buddhism and Christianity, and Judeo-Buddhism, etc. Thanks to [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/~~Syncretism Syncretism], a great many faiths have roots and branches that intersect. For example, modern researchers will tell you all about the similarities and possible cultural transfer between Buddhism and Christianity, going all the way back to the time of Christ. Of course, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (among other related faiths) are directly related to one another (with mixed faiths such as Jews for Jesus and Chrislam existing). Then there are esoteric systems such as Sufism that, while based on Islam, have adapted various Near-Eastern and Eastern traditions. This is of course completely ignoring the various denominations and sects that exist within all these religions. People are just so used to looking at things in terms of "Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism and Shinto" that they forget about all the smaller sects within these groups, and how they are all interrelated in some way to each other (various degrees of separation), while falling under the broad heading of the religions they claim to adhere to.

*** And Buddhism and Christianity, and Judeo-Buddhism, etc. Thanks to [[wikipedia:Syncretism|Syncretism]], a great many faiths have roots and branches that intersect. For example, modern researchers will tell you all about the similarities and possible cultural transfer between Buddhism and Christianity, going all the way back to the time of Christ. Of course, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (among other related faiths) are directly related to one another (with mixed faiths such as Jews for Jesus and Chrislam existing). Then there are esoteric systems such as Sufism that, while based on Islam, have adapted various Near-Eastern and Eastern traditions. This is of course completely ignoring the various denominations and sects that exist within all these religions. People are just so used to looking at things in terms of "Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism and Shinto" that they forget about all the smaller sects within these groups, and how they are all interrelated in some way to each other (various degrees of separation), while falling under the broad heading of the religions they claim to adhere to.

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** Despite this exception, the show generally followed this trope faithfully, as did its [[Sequel Series]] ''[[Extreme Ghostbusters (Animation)|Extreme Ghostbusters]]''.

* Another "exception to the rule" episode: ''[[Ben 10 (Animation)|Ben 10]]'' devoted an episode to the Navajo legend of [[Our Werewolves Are Different|the Yenaldooshi]], as told by one of Max's former teammates. In the end, the [[Monster of the Week]] turned out to be a mere alien (though one that would prove to be important later), and all of the folklore was a red herring. Even the parts where Ben was "infected".

* The trope is ''[[Inverted]]'' in most ''[[Scooby Doo]]'' series - [[Scooby Doo Hoax|the monster is]] ''[[Scooby Doo Hoax|always]]'' [[People in Rubber Suits|simply a person in a costume]].

* The trope is ''[[Inverted]]'' in most ''[[Scooby Doo]]'' series - [[Scooby-Doo Hoax|the monster is]] ''[[Scooby-Doo Hoax|always]]'' [[People in Rubber Suits|simply a person in a costume]].

** This troper thinks that the characters should have caught on by now and stopped believing that every single ghost they encounter is real. Not very ''[[Genre Savvy]]'' of them.

*** To be fair, only Shaggy and Scooby seem to ''actually'' believe in ghosts, which is somewhat forgivable as one is the G-rated version of a stoner and the other is a talking dog.

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[[Category:Urban Fantasy Tropes]]

[[Category:All Myths Are True]]

[[Category:Trope]]