Problem of God Final: Non-catholic Parables

Plato's Cave

Three movements of the plot: prior to the release of one, the release of one, the return of one. What is real and what is an illusion? What is knowledge?

Plato's Ring of Gyges

A hypothetical ring that gives its wearer the power to become invisible. Story distinguishes between the behavior of a just and an unjust person.

J.R.R Tolkien (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)

Rings prevented decay and amplified magic powers. The One ring has the power to dominate (Sauron). Gives immense knowledge, power, spiritual conversion. What would someone do with this power?

J.K. Rowling (The Sorcerer's Stone)

Invisibility cloak, must be used in moderation and for good things. Why are humans obsessed with the power of not being seen?

Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm

Fairy tales are a sure guide to life. Is one parent worse than the other? Aren't the siblings technically trespassing, deceiving, and stealing? The witch's possible connection to the step-mother (stereotypical villain). Encourages imagination

Wizard of Oz

Wicked as a re-telling of the story through a different medium. The genre of story though musical theater that makes it powerful in a new way.

The Gift of the Magi by O Henry

Biblical reference to the Magi (three people from outside of Israel who gave gifts to Jesus). Nature of the gift and sacrifice.

The Parable of the King and the Maiden by Soren Kierkegaard

Explicability of love. The grand gesture of abandoning wealth for love. Risk. Non-ending between the two.

Confucianism

We all have four moral sprouts that can be cultivated with the right education and nourishment.

Confucian Parables of the Barley Sprouts and of Ox Mountain

We all have the potential to become sages. Barley sprouts need to be nurtured. Ox Mountain that has been hacked had the sprouts of goodness that simply was not nourished. Mengzi unpacks his parables far more than the Gospels

Confucius/Kongzi

Most influential thinker in history, invented Confucian tradition

Mencius/Mengzi

Most influential Confucian after Kongzi, son of first documented single mother

Zhuangzi

Doaist thinker who rejected Confucian tradition. Believed in the Dao as an entity/force and that society was harmful in general. Only people on the margins of society who are unaffected can be models of Daoism.

Daoist Parable of the Woodcarver

Woodcarver who fasted his mind was able to produce the most divine artwork. Fasting of the mind to get a beautiful and natural result without impressions from society.

Buddhism

Offer everything that you have (i.e. offering your body up for food). Siddhartha Gautauma (Sakyamuni) who abandoned his wealth to live like the poor and acheive enlightenment.

Buddhist Lotus Sutra

3 branches of Buddhism (Terivada, Mahayana, and Vazrhayana Sutras); allegoresis misses the takeaways. Son leaves home for many years, leaving wealthy parents childless. Father attempts to bring son back to make him their heir, but the latter is unprepared for the role. Father develops "expedient means" for son to gain confidence and ultimately institutes him as the heir. The son rejoiced, gaining something he didn't know he had. Buddhist disciples realized they could get Buddhahood beyond just enlightenment (arhatship)

Buddhist "The Tigress Jataka"

Birth as a wealthy brahmin who lives a meritorious life and encounters a hungry tiger and realizes his body could feed him. Meaning: perfection of giving ("dana"); compassion for all and urgency to do so. Has controversy because maybe he could serve better purposes.

Toys/Puff the Magic Dragon

Abandoning childish things for adult pursuits. The benefits of childlike imagination. Imagination conveys what other things cannot, like parables.