What Myths Are It looks as if those also who established rites of initiation for us were no fools, but that there is a hidden meaning in their teachings.... [it is] those who have given their lives to true philosophy [who will grasp the] hidden meaning. -Plato “Never did intelligent people believe them; they believed what they represented, symbolized, adumbrated.” -Professor Kuhn To conceal the truth by myths prevents contempt of the foolish, and compels the good to practice philosophy. -Sallustius, 4th century philosopher “We must not understand or take in a literal sense, what is written in the book on the creation [Genesis], nor form of it the same ideas, which are participated by the generality of mankind, otherwise our ancient sages would not have so much recommended to us, to hide the real meaning of it, and not to lift the allegorical veil, which covers the truth contained therein. When taken in its literal sense, that work gives the most absurd and most extravagant ideas of the Deity. Whosoever should divine its true meaning, ought to take great care in not divulging it.” -Rabbi Moses Maimonides “The learned may penetrate into the significance of all oriental mysteries, but the vulgar can only see the exterior symbol. It’s allowed by all who have any knowledge of the scriptures that everything there is conveyed enigmatically, i.e., esoterically.” -Origen, 2nd century Christian theologian “My point, once again, is not that those ancient people told literal stories and we are now smart enough to take them symbolically, but that they told them symbolically and we are now dumb enough to take them literally. -John Dominic Crossan
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 01:08:29 +0000
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