Friday, 20 March 2015

Are modern parables possible?

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A modern parable would have to be religious to be a parable, otherwise it would just be a symbolic story. 

On these lines there are many sections of Tolkien's, CS Lewis's and JK Rowling's fantasy novels that function as parables - in principle detachable and summarisable - for those familiar with the books. 

But a short and stand-alone parable is not really possible as a teaching medium in modern secular culture - because modernity has subverted and destroyed the common sense of religious purpose in life. 

Before a parable can work, the author nowadays needs first to establish a context such as a large work of fiction; in which parables are a meaningful form. 
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