BIBLICAL MYTH VERSUS HISTORY

Joseph Campbell once wrote: "A Myth is something that never was, yet always is." This is a powerful explanation of the original intent of the Greek word "mythos." It is a tale, story, plot, generally spoken; not necessarily true but with a deeper Truth hidden within the story. A poetic tale, with a profound lesson rooted within it.

The Bible scriptures were never meant to be taken literally. They were intended to be allegories, parables, and metaphors trying to explaining (the best man could explain) how we got here, why we came here, and who we are.

It is an amazing book filled with Truth, inspired by powerful Myth, and NOT specifically a historical document. This is not so much about his-tory, as it is about our-story.

If you choose to deny the fact that the whole of ancient scripture is allegorical and not literal, then you must accept the following statistics as true:

- Biblical Deaths BY God: 2,821,364

- Biblical Deaths BY Satan: 10

- And, if you believe Jesus to be God, add one more murder/suicide.

Personally, I would have a huge problem with this God ... if these events were actually only real and literal. And you should too. Furthermore, you should also have a problem with a God who is blood thirsty, angry, vengeful, and rules with an iron fist.

The Bible itself tells you "there is nothing new under the sun." All of these stories and myths existed among the ancient civilizations long before the Hebrews, and for thousands of years. The names, geographic locations, and tribal customs were adapted from these ancient myths and applied to the biblical characters in an effort to customize them for their own people.

When we take these stories as merely literal history and fact, we lose the deeper esoteric Truths that they convey. This goes for both the Old Testament Rabbinical Judaism metaphors, as well as the New Testament Christian metaphors.

The mythical tales that are woven throughout ancient scripture have a deeper meaning. For example, the wandering in the desert for 40 years by Moses, the wilderness journey by Jesus for 40 days, the flood of rain for 40 days and nights with Noah ... allegorical with deeper meanings. The number "40" represents the average gestation period of human life from conception to birth. Forty weeks, is 9 months. This is a spiritual metaphor for a new birth. One from our base animal nature, to the awakening of our Divine nature ... the Christ Consciousness within each of us. THIS, is the Divine Spark contained within us all.

Even the names are symbolic. Moses, is rooted in the word MO, the Egyptian word for water and mesu, meaning child. So, “child of the water.” If you study the life of Moses, you will note that he lived to be 120 years old. The phases of his Life can be categorized into three parts: 40 years in Egypt, 40 years in Midian, and 40 years leading the Israelites through the desert to the Promised Land, totaling a 120 years. This is not by coincidence. Moses’ life here is symbolic of the human intellect which also must come under the rule of Spirit instead of the ego (Satan/Opposer).

Noah means “rest.” Noah was a “high man” that lived a spiritual Life instead of an ego-driven one, and so Noah is representative of a higher state of consciousness. Noah represents not only the higher nature of the Mind, but also a Mind at “rest.” A Mind at rest is the state of being which salvation is. The story of Noah was written to teach us to live spiritually (rightly), not carnally (ego-driven). The Ark is US. We are the container/vessel of all these things ... and again ... "water". Water represents our consciousness, and the beginnings of life.

Genesis 1:2 says:

"The earth (matter/form) was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit (consciousness) of God was moving over the surface of the WATERS."

There is far too much for one writing, but this should offer you an insight into why scripture of all forms is allegorical. There is a deeper message or meaning ... "for those who have eyes to see, and for those who have ears to hear."

~Justin Taylor, ORDM.