I have this to add as to how people are interpreting stories that are trying to teach certain things vs. thinking the stories are literal and need to be followed literally. It's symbolism, metaphor, analogy, parable, allegory. Storytelling and the science of imagery powerfully affects consciousness and behavior.
"Psa 78:2 - I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,"
"Pro 1:2 - To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;"
"Pro 1:6 - To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. "
"Gal 4:24 - Which things are an allegory:"
"2Co 3:6 - Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."
Mar 4:11 - And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand
There is an exoteric layer of the story itself that can be taken as a "literal" thing, and there is the esoteric underlying symbolic meaning conveyed through the imagery and narrative of events and behavior taking place in the story. The false understanding, "dark", is when the vision is too shallow, not seeing or hearing what is really being said, where the deeper meaning is secondary to the desire to believe it is a literal story conveying literal meaning of how to do things in life.
I have this to add as to how people are interpreting stories that are trying to teach certain things vs. thinking the stories are literal and need to be followed literally. It's symbolism, metaphor, analogy, parable, allegory. Storytelling and the science of imagery powerfully affects consciousness and behavior.
"Psa 78:2 - I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,"
"Pro 1:2 - To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;"
"Pro 1:6 - To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. "
"Gal 4:24 - Which things are an allegory:"
"2Co 3:6 - Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."
Mar 4:11 - And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand
There is an exoteric layer of the story itself that can be taken as a "literal" thing, and there is the esoteric underlying symbolic meaning conveyed through the imagery and narrative of events and behavior taking place in the story. The false understanding, "dark", is when the vision is too shallow, not seeing or hearing what is really being said, where the deeper meaning is secondary to the desire to believe it is a literal story conveying literal meaning of how to do things in life.