Johna and the Whale

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300WhiteKnights

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After reading the first couple of chapters of Moby Dick, I realized that the author had made multiple references to the biblical story of Jonah and the Whale. After reflecting on this, I started to question if Catholics should take this story literally or metaphorically. It seems impossible for someone to survive in the belly of a whale. In addition, whales don’t even eat people! Was the author of this story trying to say something metaphorically through a story, or do you think this actually happened?

Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
 
sorry, the title was meant to be spelled as “Jonah”
 
From understanding the story of Jonah and the Whale it really wasn’t a whale that swallowed Jonah but a large fish that existed then but is extinct now.
As for living in the belly of any animal, anything is possible with God.
 
TracyR said:
From understanding the story of Jonah and the Whale it really wasn’t a whale that swallowed Jonah but a large fish that existed then but is extinct now.
As for living in the belly of any animal, anything is possible with God.
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I’d have to agree with Tracy here. God sent the “big fish” intentionally to save Jonah. He wouldn’t have sent it if he couldn’t survive in it. 🙂
 
300WhiteKnights said:
After reading the first couple of chapters of Moby Dick, I realized that the author had made multiple references to the biblical story of Jonah and the Whale. After reflecting on this, I started to question if Catholics should take this story literally or metaphorically. It seems impossible for someone to survive in the belly of a whale. In addition, whales don’t even eat people! Was the author of this story trying to say something metaphorically through a story, or do you think this actually happened?

Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
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Just a little reminder, Jesus did mention Jonah when talking about His death and resurrection. So, it must be true since what happened to Jesus is True.
 
I take it metaphorically. The Bible uses literary techniques deeply embedded into the times the stories were written.

If I wrote you a letter from where I am today and said it was raining “cats and dogs outside”, you would “literally” interpret this as “it is raining very hard outside”.

If someone found this letter thousands of years later and did not know the metaphors we used in our times, he might be inclined to take a “literalist” reading and think that cats and dogs were falling from the sky, unless he was carefully able to study other old texts from our times and realize that this was metaphor.

The “truth” that we need to know in the story of Jonah, is not that of being swallowed by a whale. It is what happens when one disobeys God.
 
Well lets put this in context. Christs’s is demonstrating that he has given Jonah power to judge the earth, not the other way around. The whale was an adornment by Christs’s for his son. The fire and brimstone, Jonah did not recieve as an adornment, I will recieve when I am not delivered, when you remove the adornment he has prepared for the son of man of this day. I AM WHO I AM.
 
OraLabora said:
I take it metaphorically. The Bible uses literary techniques deeply embedded into the times the stories were written.

If I wrote you a letter from where I am today and said it was raining “cats and dogs outside”, you would “literally” interpret this as “it is raining very hard outside”.

If someone found this letter thousands of years later and did not know the metaphors we used in our times, he might be inclined to take a “literalist” reading and think that cats and dogs were falling from the sky, unless he was carefully able to study other old texts from our times and realize that this was metaphor.

The “truth” that we need to know in the story of Jonah, is not that of being swallowed by a whale. It is what happens when one disobeys God.
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This is not correct. God can and does do anything. If it is written that Jonah was in the whale then that is exactly what happened. This is an act of God.

Peace,
Ed
 
300WhiteKnights said:
After reading the first couple of chapters of Moby Dick, I realized that the author had made multiple references to the biblical story of Jonah and the Whale. After reflecting on this, I started to question if Catholics should take this story literally or metaphorically. It seems impossible for someone to survive in the belly of a whale. In addition, whales don’t even eat people! Was the author of this story trying to say something metaphorically through a story, or do you think this actually happened?

Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
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If God wills it, then it is so
 
edwest2 said:
This is not correct. God can and does do anything. If it is written that Jonah was in the whale then that is exactly what happened. This is an act of God.

Peace,
Ed
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This is not de fide. A literal interpretation does not mean a literalist interpretation.
 
300WhiteKnights said:
After reading the first couple of chapters of Moby Dick, I realized that the author had made multiple references to the biblical story of Jonah and the Whale. After reflecting on this, I started to question if Catholics should take this story literally or metaphorically. It seems impossible for someone to survive in the belly of a whale. In addition, whales don’t even eat people! Was the author of this story trying to say something metaphorically through a story, or do you think this actually happened?

Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
Click to expand...
Jesus died and was buried and rose again on the third day. So if one is inclined to believe that a Man could be swallowed by a Whale and emerge on the third day - so too one may be inclined to believe that the Son of GOD died and was buried and yet rose again on the third day. So if you are asking me - the answer is yes. If you want scientific proof - you came to the wrong guy,
 
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