John, yes! I think it has a LOT do with it. I think that gets at the heart of the problem not just in how we tend to execute storytelling but even in how we see everything. In one sense, God is constantly showing us who he is in all of creation and I believe moderns have lost the art of imitating that. Thanks!
Noelle - it strikes me that Jesus' parables would not satisfy readers who demand that every story have a clear, straightforward moral lesson. His own disciples hard a difficult time understanding the meaning behind them. Moreover, he openly admitted that his stories were told with the express purpose of confusing some of his hearers.
And that's to say nothing about the layers of meaning each story has, much like your example of the story of Daniel. There's nothing wrong with observing that Daniel resisted peer pressure. But if we walk away from the text with that as our sole or primary takeaway, we've done ourselves a disservice as readers.
Which is all to say: you're on to something good and wonderful. Keep it up! I'm looking forward to those future articles.
Yes, I absolutely agree. I had made a half conscious mental note to say something about the fact that the parables don't fit with the fables for that reason but I was in too much of a hurry! I was more just trying to say that of course there is a moral quality to them. And your point about Jesus' parables and teaching being so hard to understand is, I think, crucial to this bigger argument about how we learn as well. Thanks for your thoughtful comment, and thanks so much for your encouragement!
Hey Noelle, how much of this do you think is an issue of storytellers telling and not showing?
John, yes! I think it has a LOT do with it. I think that gets at the heart of the problem not just in how we tend to execute storytelling but even in how we see everything. In one sense, God is constantly showing us who he is in all of creation and I believe moderns have lost the art of imitating that. Thanks!
Noelle - it strikes me that Jesus' parables would not satisfy readers who demand that every story have a clear, straightforward moral lesson. His own disciples hard a difficult time understanding the meaning behind them. Moreover, he openly admitted that his stories were told with the express purpose of confusing some of his hearers.
And that's to say nothing about the layers of meaning each story has, much like your example of the story of Daniel. There's nothing wrong with observing that Daniel resisted peer pressure. But if we walk away from the text with that as our sole or primary takeaway, we've done ourselves a disservice as readers.
Which is all to say: you're on to something good and wonderful. Keep it up! I'm looking forward to those future articles.
Yes, I absolutely agree. I had made a half conscious mental note to say something about the fact that the parables don't fit with the fables for that reason but I was in too much of a hurry! I was more just trying to say that of course there is a moral quality to them. And your point about Jesus' parables and teaching being so hard to understand is, I think, crucial to this bigger argument about how we learn as well. Thanks for your thoughtful comment, and thanks so much for your encouragement!