Symbolism, archetypes, and absolute truth

Symbolism exists in all levels of literature, all facets of the written word from poetry to novels to plays to movie scripts. I have always been fascinated by the fact that certain symbols seem to directly appeal to the subconscious of nearly every reader. Sunrise represents new beginnings, sundown is associated with death or at least the end of the story (hence cowboys ride off into the sunset). White represents good and black represents evil (a fact that has caused heated racial debate in some circles but I certainly don't mean that certain ethnicities are evil - just that color can be and has been used as a symbol). These are some of the most basic of symbols, and some of the most often-repeated. Not only that, these symbols carry the same extra layer of meaning for nearly every single human being.

Archetypes are another idea from high school English class that have stuck with me - the idea that every story contains certain basic elements that are similar to every other story ever written. They have heroes, villains, sidekicks, damsels in distress, journeys of discovery, heroic quests, internal struggles, etc. etc. etc. On and on and on the list goes, and not every story has every one, but so many stories have so many similarities that it is impossible to ignore.

There have been many explanations for these two phenomena. Here is the most solid one: There is absolute truth. There are certain facts that are true, not just for those who believe a certain faith, but for everyone. In fact, to speak of something being true "for" one person or "for" a group of people, doesn't actually make any sense in relation to the meaning of the word truth. The word truth, perverted as it has become, actually means this: reality exists in a certain state, and our words and beliefs either match that state or they do not. Gravity attracts massive objects to one another, and in the vicinity of Earth it will always pull objects approximately towards the center of the Earth. For all intents and purposes, "stuff falls down". This statement cannot be characterized as true for some people but not true for others. This statement repeatedly demonstrates its effect on Christian, Muslim, Atheist, Buddhist, and Hindu every day. It is so obvious that no one questions it. But if they did - if they said to me, "well that's just your belief, but you shouldn't try to push it on me - let me make my own decisions and live my own life", it would not change the effect of gravity on their life. Such a statement would be laughable and absurd.

Symbols and archetypes, and other rampant similarities between stories of all descriptions from all cultures are evidence absolute truth exists, and humanity cannot ignore it no matter what they say. Every time we try to tell an epic story, the truth peeks through. It cannot be hidden. Good and evil exist in our world. Even if you dress the good guys in black and the bad guys in white *cough*MatrixRevolutions*cough* you cannot hide the fact that you have good guys and bad guys. If mankind keeps silent, the Bible says, the rocks and trees will cry out the truth of the gospel. Well so will our film reels and book pages. Just listen closely - you'll hear it. And if you want it straight up and unadulterated, not just in symbols but in the plainest language possible for such complicated truths, read the Holy Bible. Not something made up by men, but the true Word of God that He spoke through men. He's the original Author, He's writing the real story - our story. All the stories we write are shadows, copies, and "remakes" of His. That's part of what we were created to do - we were created in His image. And we prove it every day.