The Real Lesson from the Parables

submitted by EddieC from self.WritingsOnTheWall

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[–]EddieC[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (20 children)

in it has two meanings, one hidden and one literal.

 
What are you referring to: the 'Parables' in the Gospel of Thomas, or the canonical gospels?
Please note that in my post - I am specifically referring to the Gospel of Thomas
 

[–]Jiminy 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (19 children)

Thomas

It just doesn't have defects or things wrong on purpose. It's wrong but not on purpose

[–]EddieC[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (18 children)

It's wrong but not on purpose

 
Sayings 8, 20, 57, 96, 107 in the Gospel of Thomas intentionally include obvious 'defects' / 'invitation for retort' for the reason stated in my post above.
 
e.g. for Sayings 20 & 57, this should be self-explanatory to support my point.
 

[–]Jiminy 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (17 children)

What is your retort to them

[–]EddieC[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (16 children)

Saying:
20："Mustard seed? The farm will quickly be overrun by them weeds!"
57："Let weeds grow with the wheat? They'll hit yield by up to 50%!"  

[–]Jiminy 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (15 children)

Not seeing it. I think there's a code there but this ain't it

[–]EddieC[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (14 children)

Saying 5:
"Recognize what is before you,
and what is hidden from you will be revealed to you;
for there is nothing hidden that will not be made manifest."
 

[–]Jiminy 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (13 children)

Classic Gnosticism.

They tried to attract followers with promises of mysteries revealed. Made them feel important. I look at Scientology where they reveal the alien Xenu runs everything if you get high in the organization. 33 degree Freemasons get told something, top Jesuits get told something. It's all bullshit. The message of Jesus is very simple and there's no need to complicate it. Gnosticism reveals god is evil, it's really satanism.

[–]EddieC[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (12 children)

Here's another version of Saying 5:
"Understand what is right in front of your face,
and all the secrets will be revealed to you.
There is no secret that will not be revealed."

 
This Saying is simply saying:
review what is observable i.e. empirical evidence ('what is before you') for knowledge; in other words: "science it".
 

[–]Jiminy 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (11 children)

So is that a defect and later in the text it says to have faith? It'd make sense for the twin to say two different things. Dualism. Materiel world created by demiurge is evil. Non material world is good.