Definition: The term "archetypal" in religious or spiritual language generally refers to an ideal, common, or expected form or pattern that embodies certain characteristics. It's a term used to describe something or someone as being representative of another kind of life or human experience.
In secular contexts, the word typically means "typical," "familiar," "ordinary," "commonplace." It's often used in describing patterns or behaviors that are common among people from one culture or group. For example:
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The Bible
: The book of Genesis contains a number of archetypal images such as Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Jacob, Moses and the Israelites, and David and Bathsheba.
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Religious texts
(e.g., New Testament): The word "archetype" is frequently used to refer to one specific spiritual or religious concept or principle. This term can be translated into various translations but generally means a symbol or pattern that represents something in a way that is familiar, similar, or characteristic of other similar things.
In both contexts, "archetypal" is an essential word because it can help identify common traits and patterns among individuals or communities.