Thomas Paine On Miracle Allegories

 

The Allegorical Meaning of the Miracles

Deists Reject the Historical or Literal interpretation of the Miracles. Thomas Paine understood the nature of the problem that anchored the Christian world to a condition of profound ignorance allegories that held a metaphysical meaning. In that article entitled Of The Religion Of Deism Compared With The Christian Religion, Paine hit the nail on the head when he writes:

But the Church of Rome having set up its new religion, which it called Christianity, invented the creed which it named the Apostle's Creed... It then manufactured the allegories in the book of Genesis into fact, and the allegorical tree of life and the tree of knowledge into real trees, contrary to the belief of the first Christians, and for which there is not the least authority in any of the books of the New Testament; for in none of them is there any mention made of such place as the Garden of Eden, nor of anything that is said to have happened there. But the Church of Rome could not erect the person called Jesus into a Savior of the world without making the allegories in the book of Genesis into fact, though the New Testament, as before observed, gives no authority for it. All at once the allegorical tree of knowledge became, according to the Church, a real tree, the fruit of it real fruit, and the eating of it sinful. As priestcraft was always the enemy of knowledge, because priestcraft supports itself by keeping people in delusion and ignorance, it was consistent with its policy to make the acquisition of knowledge a real sin...

...Reason is the forbidden tree of priestcraft, and may serve to explain the allegory of the forbidden tree of knowledge, for we may reasonably suppose the allegory had some meaning and application at the time it was invented. It was the practice of the Eastern nations to convey their meaning by allegory, and relate it in the manner of fact. Jesus followed the same method, yet nobody ever supposed the allegory or parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the Prodigal Son, the ten Virgins, etc., were facts. Why then should the tree of knowledge, which is far more romantic in idea than the parables in the New Testament are, be supposed to be a real tree? The answer to this is, because the Church could not make its new-fangled system, which it called Christianity, hold together without it. To have made Christ to die on account of an allegorical tree would have been too barefaced a fable.

The Allegorical Meaning of the Miracles

The Gospels are not historical accounts -- but rather, accounts pertaining to the transformation of the seeker's own mind as they strive to enter in through the "narrow gate" -- and as the prodigal son/daughter, be restored to the Edenic Kingdom (see http://GateOfEden.com ). When you open the scriptures, you are studying your own mind and consciousness if you pick up your own cross and travail in TheWay. If you fail to be restored to the Kingdom, then you will continue to live however many lifetimes is required for you to become Whole and Perfect -- as stated by the pre-Nicene Church at The Pre-Nicene Position Of The Church On Reincarnation https://brotherofyeshua.blogspot.com/.../the-pre-nicene...

Original Facebook post by Kevin Bonecutter: The allegorical meaning of the "Miracles of Jesus" provide a more miraculous understanding than the literal stories. The wonder is not in the manipulation of the physical nature, but rather the awakening or enlightenment of our spiritual nature.

The raising of Lazarus from the dead symbolizes the raising of the spirit of someone who was spiritually dead.

The feeding of the 5,000 symbolizes the preaching and sharing of the Truth to feed their spirit. One person can change the hearts of many by preaching Truth.

Walking on water symbolizes the overcoming of fear and worldly problems. Waters in scripture symbolize the earthly challenges we must face to grow our spirit.

Changing of water into wine symbolizes the alchemical transformation of purifying ourselves to function fully in the spirit, rather than the physical nature.

Healing the blind man symbolizes the opening of a spiritually blind person's eyes to be able to see truth.

The true miracle is when a person finds truth, raises their spirit and achieves enlightenment!