God & Human Being

Speak of the relationship between god and human being, Oedipus Rex is a good example, in which oracle influences the whole life of Oedipus.

In Greek mythology, Apollo is the lord of truth, and what he said is absolute truth, so Laius certainly wants to believe his oracle. But what if he doesn't believe it? I think the result is underdetermined. Maybe he treats his son with love, and beware of his bad thoughts, the possibility for the oracle to happen will be much lower, and even not happens at all. However, because of the admiration to god, people completely trust the oracle. They believe that god's prediction is undoubted and unassailable. So, in Laius' mind, a faith is settled, and the actions he do to avoid the oracle conversely drive the oracle come true.

But before the case is entirely clear, Jocasta's belief is stired. She believes her son is dead, so she doesn't admit the truth that Oedipus is her son. Because if the oracle is true, then her happiness will be gone, so in her potential consciousness, she actually rejects it. At that time, people are definitely obey and believe in god, but Jocasta falters a little bit, and I think this means the society at that time starts to have different ideas of oracle.

The initial needs of human are the same -- desire of happy, freedom and uphold justice. In the time that technology is undeveloped, people intend to place their psychic hopes in myth, and they try to explain phenomenon by inference and imagination. Gods have their features, which reflect thinking of human. But then, the development of society opens people's mind, and they are not completely follow oracles without their own thoughts. Anyway, Oedipus Rex is outstanding work that reflects people's idea about god in early stage of the society.