The Centre for Ethics Newsletter Volume 78 - Term 3, 2015 Richard Holloway, former Bishop of Breaking open the myth Edinburgh, who wrote in How to Read Where might this approach take the Bible, ‘Unimaginative literalists those who would follow the lead have destroyed the reputation of the of David Tacey? He says the first Bible by insisting on its factual truth task is to break open the myth. This rather than encouraging us to read breaking open is a necessary it metaphorically’. beginning. But what happens then? Tacey encourages the reader Mesmerised by images to be open to the myth’s interior Tacey has said he wants this book meaning. Simply to break open to cause discussion. In this, I do the myth without engaging in the not think he will be disappointed. hard work of looking for its inner He sees Australia as a theological meaning is, according to Tacey, an backwater, where the question of act of vandalism. It discounts any how we read the Bible has been sense that traditions matter and it ignored or denied. He acknowledges has no educational value. He enlists David Tacey that some theologians in this country the philosopher Karl Jaspers to David Tacey is Emeritus Professor have hinted at metaphorical content back him up, ‘Only he or she has of Literature at La Trobe University, but not been able to discuss it in the right to demythologise who Melbourne and Research Professor plain language. He says too many retains the truth contained in the at the Australian Centre for theologians are trapped in literalism; symbolic expression.’ But what is Christianity and Culture, Canberra. too ready to put institutional loyalty this truth? What were the biblical He is an interdisciplinary scholar ahead of the search for truth. They writers trying to tell us? According to and public intellectual who has are mesmerised by images they insist Tacey the writers of scripture were written extensively on spirituality, are facts. fully aware of the mythic mode. That mental health and religion. He has was precisely the way in which they spoken at many religious education The conceits of fundamentalism intended to probe the meaning of conferences and been interviewed Tacey is well aware that some authors something holy. It could only be numerous times on ABC radio. He who dwell on the mythic content narrated in myth and symbol, as has written 14 books, including Edge of religion are involved in what he history was considered too flat and of the Sacred (2006), ReEnchantment: calls a ‘demolition job’. He does banal to express ultimate concerns. the New Australian Spirituality (2000) not see himself as engaged in any and The Spirituality Revolution (2003). such pursuit. Rather, he is trying to John Dominic Crossan His most recent publication is Beyond rescue spiritual truth from the religious David Tacey is well aware of the work Literal Belief: Religion as Metaphor conceits of fundamentalism. For Tacey, of the modern scripture scholar John (2015). Tacey says this latest book is metaphors point to something true Dominic Crossan. Crossan writes, the one he has wanted to write all his even though they are not a literal ‘My point is not that those ancient adult life. truth. He uses a number of biblical people told literal stories and we stories to illustrate this. One concerns are now smart enough to take them A literal reading of scripture the miracle of the loaves and fishes. He symbolically, but that they told them David Tacey grew up in a family says it is most likely not an event that symbolically and we are now dumb where scripture was taken literally. took place, but the connotation is that enough to take them literally. They The clergy with whom he was people went away from the preaching knew what they were doing; we acquainted encouraged this literal of Jesus feeling nourished by what don’t.’ It’s feisty stuff on the part of reading and saw it as the ‘true they heard. He is fond of a quote from Crossan and Tacey seems to enjoy faith’. They reinforced the idea that The Cloud of Unknowing, ‘Take care the intellectual struggle that is going this was the only possible serious not to interpret physically what is on as people argue about the very reading of scripture. Tacey applauds intended spiritually’. meaning of religion. Father Andrew Hamilton SJ has entered our world in Jesus, who Not historical and therefore untrue? Unsurprisingly, Tacey’s book has is the Son of God in a unique sense. Tacey is less than delighted by anyone, generated considerable controversy. Furthermore Jesus’ resurrection is Liberal Protestant or new atheist, who In a review for Eureka Street, Jesuit an event of God in this world that would dismiss the mythic element theologian Andrew Hamilton says it affected Jesus as well as the faith of of Christianity as not historical and is difficult for him as a Catholic priest believers. Hamilton pointed out that therefore untrue. As he sees it, this to engage helpfully with Tacey’s his understanding of Tacey’s book leads to a portrayal of Jesus as a argument. Hamilton writes, ‘I have was that the author argued for a faith secular figure for a secular age. He is long admired Tacey for the seriousness in which these foundations would be advocating that people adopt a state and effectiveness of his reflections interpreted in a less ‘realistic’ way. Such of mind much like that required to on religious education. I also find an interpretation would not support understand poetry and here he points illuminating his exploration of Christian Hamilton’s own lived faith. to John Keats who assists us as we stories and Christian symbols. But in keep ourselves open to mystery in all taking issue with his central argument, Public dialogue its richness. I shall inevitably be seen to share the It is not often we see any form of public timidity, lack of intellectual rigour and dialogue about theology in Australia. Tracking the Gods self interest he finds in the churches.’ However, Andrew Hamilton and David One of the best books I have read in Tacey have engaged in just such an recent years is James Hollis’ Tracking A complex discussion exercise. In a response to Tacey’s the Gods: The Place of Myth in Modern Hamilton admits that he does indeed objections, Hamilton expressed dismay Life. Hollis makes the point that myth have an interest and would have much that part of his review led some to takes us into our deepest psychic to lose if he were to read the scriptures believe and say that in his judgment reservoirs. Whatever our cultural the way Tacey does. These deprivations Tacey denied the existence of God, and religious background, a greater include, ‘The loss of a personal God to is an atheist and does not write as intimacy with myth provides a way whom I can pray, of a Christ who is a a Christian. Andrew Hamilton went of seeking meaning, the absence of living presence among his followers, on to write, ‘I totally repudiate that which is often behind the private and and of a community in living continuity description of your book and your own collective neuroses of our time. Hollis with Jesus’ disciples. But quite apart beliefs. If we differ in the account we writes, ‘Today there is renewed interest from self-interest, I am not persuaded give of Christian faith, as we do, the in myth, in part because we feel that, by his argument. It rests on polarities difference is between two people who as Blaise Pascal noted in the 17th that over-simplify a more complex are both theists and Christians, and century, ‘We wander in times which world. I refuse the choice offered can be courteously discussed.’ He went are not ours,’ or we share Hamlet’s between a literal understanding, on, ‘I want to acknowledge again the sense that ‘The time is out of joint,’ or lumbered with all its associated contribution you have made to faith in agree with Rilke that ‘We are not much crudities and historical barbarity, and a Australia by engaging with the currents at home in the world we have created’. metaphorical understanding, endowed in our culture, including an aggressive David Tacey’s ruminations on the with a spiritual depth. I too abhor the atheism, that lead so many young mythic life will be worth hearing and crudities and embrace the spiritual people to reject religion and a spiritual we may wish to read his book about depth, but I claim the freedom to move dimension in life. Your seminars and the possibilities that are open to those between with a range of interpretations talks have helped many people to exploring this same barely understood as appropriate’. appreciate the deep meanings of inner world of meaning. the Christian message that would Faith more than a metaphor otherwise be hidden from them’. Frank Sheehan David Tacey was bewildered by Andrew School Chaplain Hamilton’s review and responded ‘Celebrity atheists’ Director of the Centre for Ethics by asserting that, ‘Of course faith is As Andrew Hamilton points out, Tacey more than a metaphor,’ and that he not only challenges those who share had striven all his life to encourage his Christianity. He confronts Richard faith and to believe in a personal God. Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens (dec), Acknowledging this criticism, Andrew Sam Harris and those he calls ‘celebrity Hamilton wrote that his faith rests atheists’ accusing them of their own on the belief that a personal God sort of literal-mindedness.