Religion and Mythology

I have always appreciated symbolism.

As an artist, photographer and writer

I have borrowed images from life, good

and evil, serious and satirical, which

portray mankind’s presentation of the

human condition.

Every religion and culture has contri-

buted to the rich diversity of mankind’s

experience in life here on Earth.

Where would we be as a species

without our histories and mythologies

to portray the diversity of our beliefs

our hopes, dreams and desires, our

pitfalls and blessings?

Unfortunately, a lack of respect and

understanding, our tolerance for one

and other’s beliefs and philosophies

throughout history have all too often

resulted in division and prejudices,

even heated conflicts and wars. (My

god or goddess is bigger, better and

badder than yours!)

Most religions have constructs of good

and evil which are similar if not identical.

From a non-thiest perspective, I prefer

focusing on the attributes and transgres-

sions of good and evil within men and

women themselves than the righteous

power and might of a demanding and

vengeful deity.

It is with all this for your consideration

that I am pleased to present for your en-

lightenment and edification my repre-

sentation of just one iconic woman of

religion and mythology—Lakshmi,

Hindu Goddess of Wealth and Good

Fortune.

Likewise, I may have depicted Mary from

the Old Testament, Abigail from the Torah,

Sunni from the Koran or the more contem-

porary, Mother Teresa of Macedonia. Alas,

I had to begin somewhere.

                          -30-

Chris Hanch 5-23-2023