Interpreting Religious Myths
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So if we accept that the bible stories are myths rather than histories, how do
we interpret them? If we're going to reject the usual religious paradigm of stifling
independence and speculation in favor of the illusory comfort of control, by insisting
that these myths and stories are factual history, then what do we do with them?

The answer, I think, is that we do what the people who created these myths and
stories did with them; we use them as a starting point for contemplation,
speculation, discussion and debate. We allow them to be altered if that will
better facilitate their function as metaphor. We remember that they have been
altered already for just that purpose. Most of all, we need to try and see through
the metaphor to the real spiritual experiences that they intend to convey, and not
get caught up in the "righteousness" of the vehicle.

I have often pondered that Old Testament story about God telling Abraham to
sacrifice (by killing) his own son, presumably as a test of the strength of
Abraham's faith. This seems to be the usual interpretation, anyway. Yet once I
separate the story from the childish insistence that it be factual, I'm free to
speculate about some things. Human beings being what they are, and reality being
what it is, it seems to me very likely that what Abraham takes as God "speaking to
him" might well be the voice of his own internal doubts seeking to be recognized
and dealt with. Let's face it, if a friend came to us and said God told him to
kill his child as proof of his faith we would certainly not believe that the voice
he heard was actually God's. And if we wouldn't believe it now, why should we
believe it in this story?

Yet being obsessed with an idea of God that demands obedience as proof of faith,
Abraham follows through on this "divine" command. Or at least he pretends to,
intends to: but it's only at the very last instant when he makes the decision to
plunge the knife into his son's chest that he knows for certain that he would really
do it and so has overcome his doubt. It's because that doubt is finally recognized
and beaten that he no longer needs to actually do the deed. And so "divine" voice
speaks to him again, this time telling him to stop; that this sacrifice is no longer
necessary as his faith has been tested and proven.

I see this story as having a number of spiritual lessons to convey. Lesson number
one is that we ought to be careful about the images of God we choose to hold.
Abraham held an image of God that was distant, authoritarian, and founded mostly
on blind faith rather than natural experience, so it was inevitable that sooner or
later doubt was to come up. And when it did, this would be conceived of as a
breach of God's authority, which God could not tolerate. The point here is that
extreme views of God result in extreme behavior on the part of those who hold them.
In this case Abraham almost killed his own son because he held such an extreme view
of God.

Another lesson is that not all those inner voices are inspired by divinity. Just
because we hear a voice in our heads doesn't mean we ought to obey it blindly,
even if it does claim to be God. Sometimes that "still small voice" is the result of
mental illness. Sometimes it's some repressed part of our own self groping to be
acknowledged. Sometimes it's the best inclination within us, too, but we need to
learn some discernment, here. A God that would demand the death of a child as
a sign of loyalty is not a God one ought to be embracing to begin with.

I realize that some folks will take the story as a metaphor for those situations
when we do need to follow instructions blindly (though those times are very rare if
they exist at all). And that because others can take different lessons from this
story they may well come up with something I wouldn't think of. So to discuss and
debate it's possible meaning will just increase the value of the story even if it
does call into question or doubt the story's intent. Skepticism actually enhances
the ability of these stories to convey their ideas rather than limiting them.

Peace,
Dave