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Ohg Rea Tone is all or nothing. He is educated and opinionated, more clever than smart, sarcastic and forthright. He writes intuitively - often disregarding rules of composition. Comment on his posts - he will likely respond with characteristic humor or genuine empathy. He is the real-deal.

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Metaphor, Simile, Allegory, Spirituality

September 27th, 2007 • Related • Filed Under

Son,

We have been writing about Christianity – and we are struggling to find consensus. That is the nature of discussion about spirituality. The very nature of ‘GOD’ defies the barriers of human language. The result is that we begin using figures of speech: Simile, Metaphor, and Allegory. We can ‘feel the truth,’ but we are at a loss to articulate that feeling.

This presents some problems. Some clarity first: a Simile is a ‘like’ statement. If I said, “Bill O’Reilly is like a snake,” that would conjure an image in the mind of the listener. Metaphor is a little more powerful. If I said, “Bill O’Reilly is a snake,” that would conjure a more powerful image. We use Simile and Metaphor to talk about God. The Bible is full of imagery in the form of metaphor and allegory.

“God is my rock.” Does that mean that God is a lump of clay, hardened by a hot baking sun, unable to move or think? That would be one interpretation – and it would miss the intent of the writer. Most would interpret the statement to mean that God is solid, secure, always there, a foundation to be trusted – something like that.

Plato wrote “The Allegory of the Cave.” The ten cent version is simple. The people lived in a cave for generations. Their eyes had adapted to the light. The could not see well, but well enough to see other people as shapes. No detailed facial features. There was an entrance to the cave but they lore of the people was that you should not go there. One day a man went to the entrance – he look out and was blinded by the light. He suffered excruciating pain. But he was vigilant – he waited and then tried again. Again there was pain – but less so than the first attempt. After several attempts he was able to see without pain. He beheld the wonders of nature, blue skies, green grass, the brilliant colors of flowers, a fresh breeze, a scampering rabbit and a graceful deer. Excited, he ran back into the cave to tell the others. To his dismay they shunned him. Nothing he said could convince them to suffer the pain.

So what was Plato talking about?

Readers?

Dad

There Are 2 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by sulochanosho on 27 September 2007:

    I am sorry dad, you are a dude. The whole dead past sermons of our religion are like the visions and understanding of the men living in that cave for ‘centuries’. If suddenly a new guy sees the fresh light and air and tells the cavemen that there religions and sermons are wrong, this new man of light will immediately be finished. that’s what is happening to new and spontaneous thoghts and living here on this earth.
    Shun all dead old religions, sermons. You are sane enough to love others. You are sane enough to love this earth, irrespective and without religions and holy sermons. Life is here and now. Live your life fully.
    Sorry, Dad.
    Ur bad bad Son.

  2. Comment by Ohg Rea Tone on 27 September 2007:

    I don’t understand the metaphor of ‘dude.’ Is that a good thing? You definitely got the message of the Allegory of the cave. I agree – we should not be afraid to venture out on new thoughts and new understandings. And sometimes there is some pain involved. I don’t get why you say ‘sorry.’