Abstract
Modern Christianity has failed to update its myths and has even eliminated them, thus, excluding the metaphysical experience indispensable to religion (Jung). Myths should be interpreted, not eliminated. Answering the question about how to interpret myths without eliminating them or their intended effect is the object of this paper. The study investigates the possibility of interpreting myths as metaphors, thus, in a non-literal way. Various definitions of metaphor and myth, and theories for their interpretation are discussed, with focus on their relationship to symbolic universes. Finally, a non-mythical symbolic universe structured by root-metaphors is suggested as a framework for the existential interpretation of mythical concepts in the New Testament.Keywords: myth; metaphor; conceptual metaphor; root metaphor; hermeneutics; existential interpretation; demythologising
Highlights
Description: Dr Gert Malan is participating in the research project, ‘Socio-Cultural Readings’, directed by Prof
A non-mythical symbolic universe structured by root-metaphors is suggested as a framework for the existential interpretation of mythical concepts in the New Testament
Society’s, and in this case, the Church’s need for myth, necessitates the interpretation of ancient New Testament myths in such a way that it weaves a new or evolved, existentially meaningful symbolic universe. This is the challenge as I understand it, which Jung has put to modern Christianity
Summary
Affiliation: 1Department New Testament Studies, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Dr Ernest van Eck, Department of New Testament Studies, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria. How to cite this article: Malan, G., 2016, ‘Myth as metaphor’, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 72(4), a3260. Answering the question about how to interpret myths without eliminating them or their intended effect is the object of this paper. The study investigates the possibility of interpreting myths as metaphors, in a non-literal way. Various definitions of metaphor and myth, and theories for their interpretation are discussed, with focus on their relationship to symbolic universes. A non-mythical symbolic universe structured by root-metaphors is suggested as a framework for the existential interpretation of mythical concepts in the New Testament
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