Do you believe the Bible is real?
Numerous discussions over the years have addressed this issue. Personally, I have watched many documentaries about archeological research to find Noah’s ark, remains of King David and/or King Solomon’s kingdom and other parts of the Bible.
But what about the Bible? Should we treat it as truth?
Recently I read an answer to this question in the March/April issue of Unity Magzine.
Here is what the writer, Rev. Thomas Shepherd, explained it by using an Aesop’s fable of the “Fox and the Grapes“
Driven by hunger, a fox tried to reach some grapes hanging high on the vine.
Although she leaped with all her strength, she couldn’t manage to reach the grapes. As she went away, the fox remarked, ‘Oh, you aren’t even ripe yet! I don’t need any sour grapes.’
People who speak disparagingly of things that they cannot attain would do well to apply this instructive little story to their own lives.
Rev. Thomas goes on to explain how this fable relates to our question about the Bible:
“Simple fable. Here’s a simple question: Is the story true?
Before you say, “No”, let me ask if the experience reminds you of real life. Have you ever known someone who wanted something badly, didn’t get it, and walked away saying, “Well it wasn’t right for me anyway’?
If we look for life lessons, the story is true.
Except canids (dogs, wolves and foxes) can’t gorge themselves on grapes without becoming sick, and a fox can’t talk. If you try to make the story a history lesson or study in wildlife, it isn’t literally true. However, we all know people like that fox. In fact, I’ve been the fox more than once in my life. Truth often comes in symbolism, legend, fable, parable. It’s no accident that Jesus was a storyteller, and nobody asked him to prove there was a real Good Samaritan.”
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