When does religion become mythology?

[James]

I was thinking today (as opposed to the days where I just gaze blankly at my closet doors and sing "la lala lala la-la la" over and over).

There was a time that beliefs were based on Gods like Odin or Zeus, and histories like our universe molded out of a giant's body. But why is it, and when is it, that these beliefs become passed off as mythology? And when do you think that our religions today will become mythology as well?

On a side note: The story of Hercules, and the story of Jesus have many similarities in structure. Just a thought, pertaining to the whole mythology thing. To think that a religious figure could be based on a being who is part of nothing more than old fairy tales.