Picturing Theology, Revised Edition

168 | Picturing Theology, Revised Edition

Substitution Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

The Principle of Substitution

Myth Story Narrative Parable Allegory Re-enactment Ritual Liturgy Remembrance Festival

Metaphor Personification Imagery Symbol Representation Type Archetype Simile

Resemblance Analogy Comparison

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want for anything. – Psalm 23:1

A B :: “As a shepherd is to sheep so the Lord is to his people .” C D

The Lord A Shepherd

Analysis of Imagistic and Narratival Substitution 1. Main subject of discourse or religious idea 2. A concrete image or narrative derived from a cultural fund or reservoir of images and stories 3. Analogy-resemblance-comparison of selected elements or characteristics of (2) to illumine the nature of (1) 4. Implicit or explicit association, comparison, and identification of the two together 5. New understanding and experience of (1) through its association and identification with (2) representing new knowledge

Levels of Association 1. The Holy Spirit’s inspiration of associations

2. The cultural fund of associations for societal meaning 3. The missiological association to communicate truth Rules of Association 1. No analogy is perfect 2. Selection of elements to compare is critical 3. Theology explores connections and possible connections 4. Creative connection demands mastery of core images and stories