When you think of mythology, you probably imagine ancient giants hurling thunderbolts from the heavens or shining heroes slaying fierce beasts or three-headed dogs, right? Well, that is certainly part of a mythological conscience, but my no means its limitations. In order to begin understanding mythology's full influence and necessity in the world landscape, it is first important to dispel the prejudice that myths are, by definition, untrue. The word itself comes from the Greek mythos, meaning story or legend, and is, in fact, a term that can be used to any story which, through some divine means, relates either a history or a moral (or both). Nothing in the etymology of "myth" actually means "false". Once that stereotype is gone, it becomes possible to view the full scope that mythology influences pretty much everything around us: now that Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. can be seen as being comprised of myths, the vastness of its importance is clear. The connection between religion and mythology is perhaps the easiest to see. With the myriad of people around the globe being actively led and defined by these divine stories, and especially the actions people make based upon their respective faiths (the Roman-pagan persecution of Christians, the Christian persecution of Jews, the Great Schism of the Christian Church, the Crusades, the Inquisition, the ubiquitous "cleansing" preformed by monotheists against pagans, the numerous diasperas of the Jewish peoples, the persecution of early Muslims, the persecution of Hindus by the Muslims, the skewed jihad of radical Muslims, the endless distrust between any different faith, the repetitive use of religion by countless tyrants for personal gain; but also, the overwhelming love, brotherhood, charity, virtue, and morals taught by virtually every religion which has ever existed, to name a few) it is not surprising that a lack of mythology seems like it could be the begging of a spiritually empty horror worthy of Aldous Huxley.
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This is an articulate and insightful explanation of how my ths play a vital role in our culture.