It would be interesting to have a list of all the other “metaphors” in the Bible that we thought were facts or miracles.
The bible is full of metaphor. To paraphrase Jimmy Akin in this video, the magisterium has infallibly addressed only a small handful of scripture verses, and even those may have different interpretations. Catholics have always recognized that there can be many senses of scripture within a single text.It would be interesting to have a list of all the other “metaphors” in the Bible that we thought were facts or miracles.
We could start with creation of the world, Adam & Eve & continue on to the resurrection & second coming of Jesus!
Who is authorized to declare it a metaphor or it could be a million possible metaphors, all designed to fit the pet theory of any one. After all why should your metaphor be correct and mine wrong. My pet belief is that the literal interpretation has primacy. Metaphors are valid if supported by intent of the author which of course opens another can of worms. Or by early Christians who are closest to the Apostles or successors of apostles. Newbies should take a back seat naturally and honor those who have gone before us. What new information could be gleaned from existing scriptures by newbies? Newbies can not possibly verify their latest pet metaphors against early Christians understanding. And if they could, it only means they are rehashing old stuff. Checking with other newbies such as me is of course a waste of time.
As long as the truth which the church has infallibly declared is still there, you can ascribe any metaphor you like, and that’s what theologians do. The truth in this case is that hell does exist, that at the final judgement some people will sent there, that it is a place of eternal punishment, and that there is no release. Exactly what all that entails is not defined so we are permitted to interpret scripture in a way that makes sense to us. That is why there are different ideas among theologians of exactly what hell is, and why there is so much discussion about how many (if any) people will end up there.
Ive read many many NDEs, people say they end up in this ‘black void’ it is complete nothingness, just like closing your eyes, no senses, etc. They say their mind/consciousness is still there, same as when they were alive, they tried to wiggle their toes, stretch their arms, but there was nothing there, just like closing your eyes and existing in a total world of blackness, some say they began to panic, others said it felt peaceful, to me that sounds terrifying,
Is that a metaphor?
Ooooh that. Doctors with -]atheist/-] scientific leanings say that that is caused by the chemicals in the body creating havoc with the mind as the body struggles to regain life. Perhaps chemicals are being released as a natural response to injury and all that jazz. Interestingly, the phenomena appears in NDE situations where there machines have failed to register any more life. These good doctors never explained why not all all in such situations experience NDE if everyone gets the same dose of life regenerating chemicals. I do not know whether they have identified such chemicals yet that is capable to sending one to such NDE trips. Better than LSDs?