--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Jesus walking on water is an allegory…" description: "\"Jesus walking on water is an allegory, not fluid mechanics. God destroying the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah is a warning, not a historical battle. Doub..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/kyle-hill-13681_battle_jesus-walking-on-water-is-an-allegory-no_1063621.jpg" --- # Jesus walking on water is an allegory, not fluid… ![“Jesus walking on water is an allegory, not fluid mechanics. God destroying the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah is a warning, not a historical battle. Doubting Thomas is an example, not a person. The story of Noah, with all of its scientific and historical impossibilities, can be read the same way.” quote by Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/kyle-hill-13681_battle_jesus-walking-on-water-is-an-allegory-no_1063621.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/kyle-hill-13681_battle_jesus-walking-on-water-is-an-allegory-no_1063621.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/kyle-hill-13681_battle_jesus-walking-on-water-is-an-allegory-no_1063621.jpg) > “Jesus walking on water is an allegory, not fluid mechanics. God destroying the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah is a warning, not a historical battle. Doubting Thomas is an example, not a person. The story of Noah, with all of its scientific and historical impossibilities, can be read the same way.” [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mythical stories convey moral or spiritual truths, not literal scientific facts. **In simple terms:** Stories teach lessons, not physics. Key Takeaway Interpret myths as symbolic teachings. Themes mythology interpretation science religion Mood analytical inquisitive Type educational reflective When to use this quote - education - faith discussions - literary analysis - public speaking Key Concepts symbolism allegory critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What lessons can you draw from these stories? - How do you balance symbolic and literal interpretations? A Different Perspective Some may view myths as literal truth, causing conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allegory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegory/) [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Walking on water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking-on-water/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [The story of Noah is self-contradictory, uncorroborated by independent historical evidence, and is generally at odds with everything we know about our planet's geology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/the-story-of-noah-is-self-contradictory-uncorroborated-by-independent/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [“The next time believers tell you that 'separation of church and state' does not appear in our founding document, tell them to stop using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/the-next-time-believers-tell-you-that-separation-of-church-and-state/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [Science, we are repeatedly told, is the most reliable form of knowledge about the world because it is based on testable hypotheses. Religion, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/science-we-are-repeatedly-told-is-the-most-reliable-form-of-knowledge/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) > [Almost all the progress ever made in human thought has been made by the Doubting Thomas's, the questioners, the challengers, the show-me crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/almost-all-the-progress-ever-made-in-human-thought-has-been-made-by/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [The story of Doubting Thomas is told, not so that we shall admire Thomas, but so that we can admire the other apostles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-story-of-doubting-thomas-is-told-not-so-that-we-shall-admire/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [ “That kid’s name” he said putting emphasis on the word kid, is Thomas, but I’m gonna call him doubting Thomas”. \[...\] Because of this,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-fetsch/that-kid-s-name-he-said-putting-emphasis-on-the-word-kid-is-thomas/) [Benedict Fetsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-fetsch/) > [I was always the Doubting Thomas of the bunch, and I don't think I was convinced about the Allman Brothers until 'Fillmore East' hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-allman/i-was-always-the-doubting-thomas-of-the-bunch-and-i-don-t-think-i-was/) [Gregg Allman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-allman/) > [“To a man without a country, He appeared a joint sojourner. To Joshua armed but afraid, He came a valiant warrior. To Moses raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/to-a-man-without-a-country-he-appeared-a-joint-sojourner-to-joshua/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I'm a bit of a Doubting Thomas - always worrying about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-m-a-bit-of-a-doubting-thomas-always-worrying-about-things/) [Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/) > [Republican politicians often evoke the Bible when it suits their purposes. But they disregard some of its most important teachings when formulating policy. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-steyer/republican-politicians-often-evoke-the-bible-when-it-suits-their/) [Tom Steyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-steyer/) > [“Once again, I am sorry to take a sledgehammer to so small and fragile a nut, but I have to do so because more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/once-again-i-am-sorry-to-take-a-sledgehammer-to-so-small-and-fragile/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The story of Noah, like other stories in the first 11 chapters of Genesis, are archetypal. Noah's story tells us that human beings have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hamilton/the-story-of-noah-like-other-stories-in-the-first-11-chapters-of/) [Adam Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hamilton/) > [“Begin in Genesis with the well-loved story of Noah, derived from the Babylonian myth of Uta-Napisthim and known from the older mythologies of several…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/begin-in-genesis-with-the-well-loved-story-of-noah-derived-from-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [My dad's a Pentecostal minister, meaning that he's full of charisma. If he's telling a story about Noah's ark, you best know each tiger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/my-dad-s-a-pentecostal-minister-meaning-that-he-s-full-of-charisma-if/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [“Where I'm at is a big Episcopal church in downtown Newark, New Jersey, sitting in the dark while I try to rescue the doomed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/where-i-m-at-is-a-big-episcopal-church-in-downtown-newark-new-jersey/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) ## More by Kyle Hill > [Picking apart a story for its scientific underpinnings doesn't diminish it, it enhances it, makes us dream of the possibilities it proposes. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/picking-apart-a-story-for-its-scientific-underpinnings-doesn-t/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [Why would you envy a man who doesn't know the names of all the planets, is a 'high functioning' sociopath, and has no friends?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/why-would-you-envy-a-man-who-doesn-t-know-the-names-of-all-the/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [People are misers of mental effort. If we don't have the interest or the capacity to look into the arguments, if the message isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/people-are-misers-of-mental-effort-if-we-don-t-have-the-interest-or/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [We tend to accept information that confirms our prior beliefs and ignore or discredit information that does not. This confirmation bias settles over our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/we-tend-to-accept-information-that-confirms-our-prior-beliefs-and/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [The recipe for a human doesn't fill up a shopping list as you may suspect. Just twenty-two elements can describe almost all of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/the-recipe-for-a-human-doesn-t-fill-up-a-shopping-list-as-you-may/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [A rainbow is the product of physics working for your appreciation of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/a-rainbow-is-the-product-of-physics-working-for-your-appreciation-of/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [You can do yoga all day, you can run or bike or swim, but a pull-up will still be hard. It's not that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/you-can-do-yoga-all-day-you-can-run-or-bike-or-swim-but-a-pull-up/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [Sherlock is a portrait of humanity - he takes nature's gift of thought and runs with it, bringing along all the human struggles, fears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/sherlock-is-a-portrait-of-humanity-he-takes-nature-s-gift-of-thought/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [What is basically just an IQ score has roots in education, socioeconomic status, genetics, and environmental factors. Looking at any one of these roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/what-is-basically-just-an-iq-score-has-roots-in-education/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [Cancer is real-time evolution, and your body is the selective pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/cancer-is-real-time-evolution-and-your-body-is-the-selective-pressure/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [When the first episode of 'Mythbusters' aired in 2003, I couldn't drive a car. I couldn't see a R-rated movie. I was 14 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/when-the-first-episode-of-mythbusters-aired-in-2003-i-couldn-t-drive/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [Human atoms are the notes, their life the symphony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/human-atoms-are-the-notes-their-life-the-symphony/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [Galileos still exist in science. Sometimes a lone proponent of a new idea turns out to be right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/galileos-still-exist-in-science-sometimes-a-lone-proponent-of-a-new/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [The story of Noah is self-contradictory, uncorroborated by independent historical evidence, and is generally at odds with everything we know about our planet's geology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/the-story-of-noah-is-self-contradictory-uncorroborated-by-independent/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) > [Raised on Bill Nye videos, LEGOs, and CD-ROMs of dinosaurs, I was a lump of nerdy clay waiting to be molded. 'Mythbusters' came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hill/raised-on-bill-nye-videos-legos-and-cd-roms-of-dinosaurs-i-was-a-lump/) [Kyle Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) [Explore all 49 Kyle Hill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-hill/) ## More Allegory quotes > [Science fiction is a weird category, because it's the only area of fiction I can think of where the story is not of primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-e-westlake/science-fiction-is-a-weird-category-because-it-s-the-only-area-of/) [Donald E. Westlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-e-westlake/) > [I think cinema is closer to allegories than to reality. It's closer to our dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-puig/i-think-cinema-is-closer-to-allegories-than-to-reality-it-s-closer-to/) [Manuel Puig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-puig/) > [Allegories are, in the realm of thought, what ruins are in the realm of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/allegories-are-in-the-realm-of-thought-what-ruins-are-in-the-realm-of/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [A fairytale is not an allegory. There may be allegory in it, but it is not an allegory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/a-fairytale-is-not-an-allegory-there-may-be-allegory-in-it-but-it-is/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“However, as a guarantee of its renewed youth, the symbolical phoenix never reappeared before the eyes of the world without having consumed solemnly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliphas-levi/however-as-a-guarantee-of-its-renewed-youth-the-symbolical-phoenix/) [Éliphas Lévi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliphas-levi/) > [The fumes of the most disordered imaginations were recorded in their religious code, as special communications of the Deity; and as it could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-fumes-of-the-most-disordered-imaginations-were-recorded-in-their/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [By a symbol I do not mean an allegory or a sign, but an image that describes in the best possible way the dimly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/by-a-symbol-i-do-not-mean-an-allegory-or-a-sign-but-an-image-that/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [I don't feel I have to struggle against allegory. I let the readers do the interpreting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/i-don-t-feel-i-have-to-struggle-against-allegory-i-let-the-readers-do/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [“Hence all original religions are allegorical, or susceptible of allegory, and, like Janus, have a double face of false and true”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/hence-all-original-religions-are-allegorical-or-susceptible-of/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [It is remarkable how a man cannot summarize his thoughts in even the most general sort of way without betraying himself completely, without putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/it-is-remarkable-how-a-man-cannot-summarize-his-thoughts-in-even-the/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [“The Durhannians' countenance lifted as is the way of Hope. There was a village elder whose eyes flickered with the light of Understanding. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-green-westlake/the-durhannians-countenance-lifted-as-is-the-way-of-hope-there-was-a/) Laurie Green Westlake > [“This philistinism of interpretation is more rife in literature than in any other art. For decades now, literary critics have understood it to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/this-philistinism-of-interpretation-is-more-rife-in-literature-than/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [“On this material plane, each living being is like a street lantern lamp with a dirty lampshade. The inside flame burns evenly and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/on-this-material-plane-each-living-being-is-like-a-street-lantern/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [Not taking the Bible (or other texts based on 'revealed truths') literally leaves it up to the reader to cherry-pick elements for belief. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tayler/not-taking-the-bible-or-other-texts-based-on-revealed-truths/) [Jeffrey Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tayler/) > [We each create a story - a narritive, a picture, an allegory, a model - for what's going on in the universe. And then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/we-each-create-a-story-a-narritive-a-picture-an-allegory-a-model-for/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) [Browse all 150 Allegory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegory/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Jesus walking on water is an allegory, not fluid mechanics. God destroying the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah is a warning, not a historical battle. Doubting Thomas is an example, not a person. 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