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Allegories. Christians love allegories! That’s a story element of having a person, place, or thing meant a a direct picture of something else, like Jesus or moral virtues. Some people think Jesus did this in parables, or C.S. Lewis did this with Narnia. Others point to Pilgrim’s Progress as a prime example. Even if they’re right, might some readers focus so much on the deeper meanings of fantastical human storytelling?

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Quotes and notes

Allegory is a form of literature in which material figures represent immaterial virtues or vices. So in Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, the character Timorous represents fear and Mr. Worldly Wiseman represents worldly wisdom. In our day, distinction of genres has been muddled a bit, so we tend to regard any story with symbolic elements in it as allegorical, but it was not always this way. C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, for instance, are not allegories, even as often as they are referred to as such, and Lewis himself said as much.

The parables of Jesus could be said to contain allegorical elements, some more than others, but they are not strictly speaking themselves allegories. Jesus definitely deals in the world of virtues and vices, but he is most immediately interested in the world of human beings, their hearts, their words, and their deeds.

“How Not to Read the Parables,” Jared C. Wilson

The reason for the long history of the misinterpretation of the parables can be traced back to something Jesus himself said, as recorded in Mark 4:10–12. When asked about the purpose of parables, he seems to have suggested that they contained mysteries for those on the inside, while they hardened those on the outside. Because he then proceeded to “interpret” the parable of the sower in a semi-allegorical way, this was seen to give license to the hardening theory and endless allegorical interpretations. The parables were considered to be simple stories for those on the outside to whom the “real meanings,” the “mysteries,” were hidden; these belonged only to the church and could be uncovered by means of allegory.

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart

1. Jesus’s parables aren’t just allegories

• Sometimes the Lord interpreted His tales this way. For example, He says the seed is like His word and different soils are like different hearers (see Mark 4:13–20; Matthew 13:18–23; Luke 8:11–15).
• But we may miss His main point if seek out the Secret Allegories.
• No less top church fathers seem to have started this trend.
• Famously he read many allegories into the Good Samaritan tale.
• But the central point is to answer, “Who is my neighbor?”
• At other times He simply said, “The kingdom of heaven is like…”
• Meaning the whole parable says something about His kingdom.
• What follows might be a prophecy of doom in the end times.
• Or it might be an illustration of human behavior fit for His reign.
• His parable may be about groups, individuals, morals, or salvation!
• In either case, “he who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

2. Pilgrim’s Progress is allegory; Narnia is not

• Many readers fondly remember John Bunyan’s classic quest tale.
• The allegories start simple but accessible, especially for Puritans.
• “Christian” is a Christian. “Evangelist” is. Apollyon is just a demon!
• Then as we’ve previously explored, the allegories get complicated.
• God, angels, the Bible, and Heaven are literal. So are good and evil.
• At one point Moses himself cameos as a Law-enforcing antihero!
• Altogether, Bunyan is both less and more creative than we thought.
• However, we needn’t impose our view of Progress
• For instance, many Christians learned to like Narnia by accepting the common belief that Lewis put “allegories” into his fantasy tale.
• Stephen recalls one article around the movie release in 2005.
• The writer meant well, but made up all kinds of silly “allegories.”
• He believed the Pevensies are apostles and weapons are prayer.
• Lewis himself specifically says outright that he did not do this.
• Aslan isn’t an “allegory” for Jesus. He is Jesus, working his good will in many worlds across a fantastical barely glimpsed multiverse.
• One’s view of “allegory” shouldn’t overturn clearly stated words.
• Otherwise we’d all end up reading our own ideas into the Bible too!

3. Forced allegories may ruin some stories

• Frankly, forcing allegories into stories risks rejecting their real truth.
• With limited allegories, Jesus made sure His parables carry layers.
• With mixed/complex allegories, Pilgrim’s Progress has aged well!
• By avoiding direct allegories, Narnia can be subtle yet also overt.
• And for new Christian-made fantasy, we can expect the same.
• Kids and grown-ups can lose themselves in the story, not pulling it apart for useful parts, but being surprised by deeper meanings.
• History shows this is a far more powerful way to read stories.
• Instead of making them into Teaching Tools, as if stuff we make up could replace God’s word, stories help us see our own responses.
• This is a far more human emphasis closer to imagination’s purpose.
• And for new writers out there, we encourage going deeper.
• Allegories look like ultimate meaning, but they’re really 101 level.
• Example: any sword may evoke Ephesians 6. But it’s first a sword.
• You don’t have to limit this idea to the word of God or even prayer.
• Swords have more resonance in Scripture than just one text.
• They’re tools of men and angels alike to defeat or restrain evil.
• So don’t reduce the concrete object to some spiritual abstract.
• Really this comes down to how we see the world. Do we expect a bodiless “spiritoid” eternity? Or one where matter itself matters?
• Scripture promises a union of tangible New Earth and New Heaven.
• Ultimately our stories must hearken to this reality. So study deep!

Com station

Top question for listeners

• How do you look for deeper meanings in the Bible and stories?

Next on Fantastical Truth

Next week is Groundhog Day, and we’ve already seen this story: Your favorite Christian author, who usually talks about book updates and inspirational life anecdotes, is suddenly posting about controversial political stuff. Should readers impose “no politics! no religion!” rules on story creators who feel strongly about a topic? Or might we expect more from authors posting or not posting hot takes?