Metaphors necessary? (ritual, translation, experience, spiritual, religion)

[Master Vigil]

Are metaphors necessary when dealing with religion and spirituality? Can they be understood without them, or is it impossible?

And what about analogies? Why must we constantly use analogies when dealing with religion and spirituality? Is it that we have no real stories to tell, we have to make up ones that follow the same idea?

[Sunstone]

How would you get rid of metaphores without also ridding yourself of conscious thought?

[Master Vigil]

If I see a rock and roll it down a hill, I can say successfully that "I have rolled a rock down a hill." No use of metaphor required and no confusion of translation because what I did and saw was real. But when one deals with religion and spirituality, it is all metaphors and analogies. Which makes me wonder if anything real was ever understood, seen, done and therefore the metaphors were made up.

[cardero]

Mister Vigil writes: Are metaphors necessary when dealing with religion and spirituality? Can they be understood without them, or is it impossible?

When it comes to any knowledge I think if given the CORRECT metaphor for the right person it could profoundly help the UNDERSTANDING process along very quickly and easily.

Mister Vigil writes: And what about analogies? Why must we constantly use analogies when dealing with religion and spirituality? Is it that we have no real stories to tell, we have to make up ones that follow the same idea?

Sometimes analogies may be the only method people have to debate religion and spirituality. I enjoy employing physical experiences that have happened to me personally in my life, I think it adds a more personal touch to my posts. You must admit many of us here have shared some very unique experiences.

[No*s]

Yes. I've made arguments in other threads, so I won't bore people here .

[standing_on_one_foot]

Well, metaphors and analogies are useful tools in communicating ideas, which tends to be a big part of religion. And communication relies on shared experiences, to some extent, so if you can relate what you're talking about to a shared and similar experience, well, that's bound to be handy.

[Lightkeeper]

Metaphors bypass the intellect and speak to a deeper part of ourselves. Poetry can't always be understood on a conscious level, but speaks to the subconscious.

[Master Vigil]

I believe metaphors are extremely fun to use, and can definitely speak to a deeper part of ourselves. But the point I am trying to make here. Is in reality, metaphors are not needed to speak about something. But in terms of the divine, it is the only way. We have to substitute "real" events to try to explain "unreal" events. Perhaps it follows that the divine is simply our imagination in the form of metaphors.

[No*s]

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

I believe metaphors are extremely fun to use, and can definitely speak to a deeper part of ourselves. But the point I am trying to make here. Is in reality, metaphors are not needed to speak about something. But in terms of the divine, it is the only way. We have to substitute "real" events to try to explain "unreal" events. Perhaps it follows that the divine is simply our imagination in the form of metaphors.

Hey MV. We almost agree verbatim on that ! Now ain't that nice .

The only place where I seriously disagree are those last two sentances, since I don't believe that God is our imagination. Still, we at least agree on methodology on that point. See, I'm not always looking to disagree .