The Prison Parable

There was an eternal prison where inmates would arrive, but they couldn’t remember where they came from, or why they were there. It was a place you wouldn’t want to spend five minutes in, let alone an eternity. Forever is a long time, and in that time many managed to acquire small communications from the divine on the outside. How it happened was always mysterious, but it did happen. A morsel here, a nugget there, and they passed this wisdom through story, for what seemed like forever, though it was technically only a fraction of that. From these stories people learned that this prison wasn’t always there, and that it was built where a wilderness once was. From these stories they also derived structure, rules, and guidance, to make this hell a little better. And it worked. Somewhat. The stories were passed on, and inspiration would occasionally improve them, which added up over time, until one day someone decided to carve them into the walls. Once the inmates had a physical copy, the inspiration stopped, and whatever they had remained preserved.

One day, some unfathomable amount of time later, a man entered the prison, as they all did, only he was different. He proclaimed divine, royal lineage, and said to be sent there by his father to save them. It was said that he was the only inmate there who hadn’t committed a crime. He gave them new stories, deeper wisdom, and taught them how to listen to divine inspiration so that they would not be cut off from the Heavens any longer. But beyond this he gave the most important message of all: he was going to break them out of the eternal prison and bring them to a new world where no prison could be built. A world of glory and light. All they had to do was die, and then follow him. Their bodies would be re-formed, greater than ever, and they would be able to live and thrive in the new kingdom. A world without bars and chains. Now this was a confusing thing to hear—all this dying and following business—but the people were moved by his words and the miracles he performed.

When the wardens of the Eternal Prison got word of this disruption they had the man killed. Three days later he reappeared, to the confusion of all. He spoke to the prisoners again, any who would listen, and reminded them that they must die and then follow him. Eventually the man drifted through the bars and disappeared.

After that the people carved all of his words and preserved them, and extrapolated new rules and guidelines from them. The people worshipped him and taught each other that these carved words were going to save them and make the prison better, if only the people followed the rules better. One of the rules was to listen to divine inspiration, but they made sure to remind people, that only meant to listen to the teachings that were already carved. You wouldn’t want to get any crazy ideas now would you?

Despite these glorious new teachings from this holy man, the prison seemed only to get worse, but the faithful always believed in the message that the man would return and make the prison into the best prison ever.