Symbolism of these figures, believe every tale or not, is philosophically important. Jesus is known as the truth and the light. His story is of telling the truth he knew and rising against the state. He came from humble beggining, did not live by extravagance, spoke to the poor and wretched, and upturned the state control grid. Jesus' story is so misconstrued nowadays. He was the original truther, anarchist. Read through it again with that in mind and I promise weather you believe in the divinity or not, it will blow your socks off. What is truly being told to the reader. These organized churches do not represent what Jesus stood for. Look at tithing alone, a required 10% to be in good standing with the church who states you must be in good standing with them to be close to god. Wasn't it Jesus who literally flipped over the money changer's tables at Herod's temple? Exploitation of parishioners is a sin! Jesus states "I am the straight and narrow path, no one goes to the father but through me" not through a church, but by following the prescribed practices Jesus laid out. I am a christian, but probably will never adopt myself to an organization who claims to have it all sorted out. I listen to a diversity of people looking for understanding and self reflect upon my actions. To be truly enlightened is not to have knowledge of all things, but to detach yourself from preconceptions and look inward.