Do Christians understand the meaning of the word parable?

Question

As we all have heard from time to time, Jesus spoke in parables.

Do you know the meaning of the word parable? If so, then why would you believe the whole story to be fact?

Believing a parable is rather like believing the Harry Potter stories to be true because they speak about London when you know that only the London part is fact.

Don't know what parable means?

From the American Heritage Dictionary: n. A simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson.

Merriam-Websters dictionary: a usually short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle

Now that you know what the dictionary calls a parable, why would you continue to believe parables are factual?

And if Jesus taught in parables, what makes you think that no one else in the bible did?

Remember... just because the bible doesn't say something doesn't mean its not true. The bible doesn't talk about dinosaurs and ameoba's either.

Fascinating....

I speak of the dictionary definition (and even gave you some) of the word parable, and get, in reply, a definition from.... somewhere.... that has nothing at all to do with the real definition.

And then I get "the land of giants" as though thats supposed to refer to dinosaurs when it could litterally refer to anything. Ever seen pictures of Africa with their elephants, rhino's, and hipo's? Giants anyone? Especially to a people that never knew they had existed before?

Not the brightest bulbs in the pack, are you?

Answer 1

"those who believe the bible is the literal word of god are committing intellectual suicide"

Pope JPII

Answer 2

Parable - "An Earthly story with a Heavenly meaning".

As a Christian, I really have not met anyone who takes the parables as fact. That is, assuming we make a distinction between the parables in The Bible and the rest of The Bible.

But, your question made me curious. Can you give examples where someone stated a parabale (for example: The Prodigal Son) as a fact. You don't need to prove it, I'll take your word for it. Just please relay an incident where you encountered such thinking. Thank You.

Answer 3

I think Christians understand that Jesus was speaking in parables. He made it clear that he was telling a story to prove a point.

What Christians *don't* seem to get is that the Old Testament is filled with parable-like stories, too. Allegories and metaphors ... never meant to be taken literally ... from the Creation story to Adam and Eve to the Flood.

Answer 4

Yes, Jesus often told the people, I speak to you in a parable. The lesson was learned from the parable.

Answer 5

Your question enlightens.

I think most Christians elect to read the bible as a literal text and appear to agree with it absent looking at it differently as the symbolism escapes them somehow.

With parables from index to back cover one might clue in that Symbolism is a big thing within the works.

One can look at media and see "The Jesus Story" as taken literal; how else can one make a movie in symbolism?
In one scene Jesus walks within "His fathers Temple" overturning tables and thrashing everyone for having a flea market within the Temple; the symbolism was about never placing the ideas of Spirituality behind physical issues such as money and so on.

In another work of Jesus we see Again, Again...and then Again Jesus telling everyone whom he was "the Truth" in Symbolic form; this lesson is taught by Jesus "making the blind see" as Jesus made it clear "He was the way, the light" and so on and by cleaning out the eyes of the blind , "The Spiritualy Blind can see when the Truth makes it clear"; all of this great stuff is lost most to those Christrians whoim appear to Need It Most...

One important message from Jesus was this: "I am you, we are the same and One, as I am with God also, so are you".

Jesus was not special and "God" is of the same lineage as You. Jesus of course being that "link" in where you want to be spiritually as that opens up "God" to the blind.

This is also clear in Symbolism as Jesus states: "No man may come to the Father but by through me";

Jesus was not saying I am great, believe in me or else; he was saying; " As I represent the Truth, seek the Truth of yourself in the very nature of reality and in such find "God"; religions literaly interpreted this as "Jesus was Gods son, believe it or else....

Again, lost in translation.

Answer 6

The interesting thing is that Jesus used parables to HIDE his meaning, not to make it clearer to the masses. When his disciples asked why he spoke to the people in parables, he responded:

Matt.13: 11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Jesus made his meaning clear only to his disciples, in private, saying that he wanted THEM to know his meaning, but to the rest this understanding was not given. This hearkens back to Christianity's Gnostic origins, as does the mention, by Paul, of the "mysteries" of Christianity. The mysteries were the deeper meanings of various parables and myths that only the chosen few were taught to understand. The masses, uninitiated into the Gnostic teachings, would see them only as clever, entertaining stories. (See also Matt. 13:36 and Mk. 4:34)

Answer 7

Jesus spoke in parables because he was trying to talk in a way that they would understand. Like when you speak to children.

You don't let infants chew on meat!
You first have to start them on milk. The older they get the more solid food they can handle.

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Answer 8

Actually, dinosaurs are mentioned in the Bible..

I agree with your parable perception..

Answer 9

um, i passed the fifth grade, i fully understand what a parable is, please don't lump all christians under one umbrella.

btw, genesis talks about a land of giants, and i can't see an amoeba with my naked eye, and newsflash! they didn't have microscopes until much later :o)

Answer 10

Very true, and I agree with you.

I think you'd find that most Christians believe that the Bible isn't literal in all parts.

Answer 11

A parable is like two male cows, right?