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Sacred Stories
Understanding metaphor (an
exercise):
From each of three pairs of words, choose
the one that best describes you (choose three):
Now do the same for six of the following
pairs: Are you...
-
an open window or a closed door
-
a searchlight or a candle
-
a kite string or a laundry line
-
a lake or a river
-
a computer or a typewriter
-
the tortoise or the hare
-
a sleeping cat or a barking dog
-
a coffee mug or a wine glass
-
a sandy beach or a rocky mountain trail
-
a key or a lock
-
a stepping stone or a ladder
-
a spring flower or a pine tree
The first set of words are adjectives, the
second set are metaphors.
Write your own definition of a
"metaphor" based on what you perceive to be the difference between the
two groups of words...
Review the following terms in any
dictionary:
-
Figurative
-
Analogy
-
Metaphor
-
Simile
-
Allegory
-
Parable
-
Fable
-
Myth
-
Legend
Is it a myth, sacred history, secular
history or a parable?:
| |
Within historical space and time
(provable to some degree) |
Beyond/outside historical space and time
(not provable) |
Ordinary beings, places, and/or events |
Fantastic beings, places, and/or events |
| Myth |
|
X |
|
X |
| Parable |
|
X |
X |
|
| Sacred History |
X |
|
X mix |
ed X |
| Secular History |
X |
|
X |
|
-
Myth
is more fantastic than sacred history but sacred history may have an element
of the fantastic to it (cf. text: top, p. 201). Intent: myths attempt to explain origins or tell of events before
or outside of historical time (myth
is intent to explain phenomena - natural and social - prior to the insights
of science). Myths often tell of the exploits of gods or demons in other
realms beyond the world we live in. Myths often tell of a world much
different from that in which we live.
-
Myth
is stories of events outside of, before or after history (supposed history but
not supported by secular history) (e.g., Creation story). Note:
"myth" does not automatically imply "false story."
Myths may be, to some degree, true or false. But they are not
"fact." Like opinions, they cannot be proven or disproven because
there is no equivalent secular history as evidence to support or debunk them.
People either believe or do not believe myths to be historically true. There
is no evidence for or against the belief being true to fact.
-
Sacred
history is religious interpretation of events within history at least
partly verifiable by secular history (e.g., Jesus was a historical person:
born but not necessarily the way the Gospel stories tell it). Intent: to explain the meaning behind
historical events (i.e., God’s purpose)
-
Secular
history is like science (intent: to describe events): it can
tell us what happened, who it happened to, when & how
it happened, but not why. Sacred history adds the "why", the
purpose or reason.
-
Parables
are realistic stories (few or no fantastic elements) that could have happened
but did not happen (i.e., they did not happen in time/history) told with the
purpose (intent) of teaching a moral lesson or difficult concept
(e.g., about the Kingdom of God). Parables and other "teaching
stories" (e.g., fables) do not pretend (like myth) to be true to
historical fact. They are analogies, metaphors, figurative - intended to be
interpreted.
For some examples of how parables are
used as teaching stories, read in the Bible: Matthew
chapter 13.
-
A
fable is like both a parable (teaches a lesson) and like a myth (more
fantastic). Myths attempt to explain the unexplainable, fables attempt (intent)
to teach lessons; thus fables are more like parables even though they
may be somewhat fantastic. (e.g., Aesop’s fables always end with a moral)
What
kind of story is it? Ask: "why is it being told, what is its intent?"
The
Truth in fiction: A work of fiction can be a vehicle through which the
author expresses his or her values. Those values are as true as the author
him/herself is. Those values and ideas exist in the real world even if the world
of the novel is pure fiction or fantasy. The same can be said for myths that may
not be true to historical fact: they can teach metaphysical lessons and inform
our value systems. That may be more important than being literally true. If we
do see these stories as true to historical fact we may even miss the more
important lessons they have to teach us.
Creative interpretation of stories
(examples):
A
Millennial Interpretation of History
The Seven Days of our Spiritual Creation
Essay to read: Metaphors
be with You...
Assignment: The Story of Yourself
Select an object that best represents or
describes who you are. Write/brainstorm for five minutes, describing yourself
as if you were that object. Think about what kinds of questions someone might
ask about your object, eg..,
if you are a book: “what kind of book are you? What is your title? Who might
read you?" (you might want to share your brainstorming with someone else
and have them ask you the questions). Continue to
develop your story about yourself as this object, addressing the questions if
you need a place to start.
When you are finished, read
your story through. What does this story say about who you are? How does telling
it though the use of metaphor impact on the message, the telling and reception
of the message?
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