In your third para, Joe, I can't help feeling you are somewhat begging the question re the word 'allegorical', both as to its meaning & in relation to those parts of Holy Writ which should be so regarded. Some passages are clearly 'allegorical' (Song of Solomon, e.g.), others presumably to be taken as telling true historical facts {Babylonian exile}. But with many it is hard to tell which to regard them as ~~ Lot's daughters? [& if true, what morality are we to draw from that?]; Job?; the "fingers of a hand that writ" at Belshazzar's feast? [not NB on the wall specifically, despite the dead metaphor of "the writing being on the wall"]... I don't think it quite OK for you to use the word as if it were in all cases self-evident as to what is allegory & what is not.

Musket: I'll make it Hegel. Your examples [the Morris &c] are qualitatively different from religious faith, and don't pretend you don't know it. No Morrisman has ever truly believed he was doing it on the pavements of Hammersmith to make the crops grow, and you don't think he has; while a true Christian worshipper in church at a recognised devotional occasion like a wedding does believe that, however much he is going somewhat mechanically & not with entire attention & concentration, thru a formulaic ritual, there is a real entity there listening whom he respects and worships. And don't disingenuously pretend you can't make out this distinction for yourself; becoz you just ain't that stchoopid!

~M~