I don’t believe in magic. I believe the laws of physics are a good thing. So when I read a story about Jesus walking on water, I assume I am reading a rabbinic teaching story.
In the rabbinic tradition, such miracle stories were used to teach profound insights about the nature of life, not to ascribe magical powers to superheroes.
The story may very well pre-exist Christianity, as there was an ancient story of Buddha walking upon water.
More importantly, believing in magic alienates us from our ordinary everyday experiences and from nature. I believe such stories are not records of the favorite kid of God violating the laws of nature that have been imposed upon the rest of us, but are poetic revelations of the sacramental nature of being itself.
When we reduce religion to stories of magic we miss the truth the stories may have been intended to reveal- this whole world, though governed by natural laws, is one big miracle.
Dr Rigby once again you answer a question of mine without me asking. I came on the blog today to ask your view of the story of Noah. After giving Isaac and Abraham a much more palatable rationale in your Fruits of Action sermon I was curious about your view on this surely misunderstood tale.
I have always, even as a kid wondered, what I am to learn from all this magic. I went to Catholic schools in New Orleans, so can you imagine my torment reading all these magical tales and it beaten into me by woefully wicked nuns and priests. I was against the whole story until I started reading and Buddha, Mohammed and Gandhi other religious works. It was then I gained a great understanding of Jesus and certainly a more grounded view of God and all his works.
Hi Jim,
I commented on this piece a few days ago and noticed my comment is now gone. I truly hope my comment was not thought of as offensive in any way, it certainly was not meant to be so. I do love your work.
Peace and love
James
James, I just hadn’t been on the site for several days. I certainly wasn’t offended at all. In fact I identified with your experience. It was in exploring other religions that I realized the metaphorical nature of magic stories. The rabbis would package great insights into stories about miraculous acts. I suspect such stories are intended to give a mystical reverence to the truth being communicated, but that truth is lost if the story is believed literally.