James Churchward and the Lost Continent of Mu
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This 8 page paper discusses James Churchward’s claims that the “lost continent of Mu” once existed in the mid-Pacific, and sank when gas filled chambers beneath it collapsed. The paper argues that Churchward’s theory is not supported by scientific evidence, but notes that people still seem to enjoy debating it. Bibliography lists 8 sources.
Filename: HVCrchwd.rtf

Jan Brunvand’s Works on Urban Legends, “The Vanishing Hitchhiker” and “The Baby Train”: Development of Changes in Format and Presentation
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This is a 5 page paper discussing the differences found in Brunvand’s “The Vanishing Hitchhiker” and “The Baby Train”. Jan Brunvand’s text “The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends and Their Meanings” (1981) introduced a generation to contemporary American urban legends, their origins, their development, and contained detailed accounts as to the depth of research in understanding the legends. Twelve years later, Brunvand released his fifth volume of urban legends entitled “The Baby Train and Other Lusty Urban Legends” (1993). The format of his presentation in this volume changed somewhat to include shorter narratives and less accompanying explanatory statements about each legend. Instead, Brunvand focused much more on the typing and cross-referencing of the legends contained and on the international contexts many have reached. The reason for this change in format was mostly due to the fact that the field and the interest in urban legends had grown a great deal since his original text and because of this Brunvand was able to contain less explanatory text in regards to the research involved and thus avoid repeating himself and offering instead his readers a chance to see the extent of the field and the extent to which the knowledge of urban legends has reached on an international basis as well as an American one. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: TJBrunv1.rtf

Joseph Campbell & Michael J. Harner / Ritual Compared
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A 5 page paper comparing and contrasting the ideas of these two theorists about the function and importance of ritual. Joseph Campbell was a well-known writer in the areas of mythology and ritual, and frequently drew analogies between established religious practices and long-forerunning mythological beliefs. He maintained that ritual was an important part of any religious practice as a way of setting the practice apart from daily routine, working to keep it within the realm of something outside, yet part of, the individual. Michael Harner teaches shamanism to Westerners for incorporation into holistic healing practices. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: Ritual.wps