The document discusses the symbolic and essential value of bread on spiritual, physical, and commercial levels. Bread represents sustenance and is central to the Christian story of Jesus as the "bread of life." Historically, shortages of bread have led to riots and political instability. Commercially, references to "bread and dough" came to represent money. Overall, the document argues that bread literally represents value through its role in sustaining life and its cultural and religious symbolism.

1. Bread
Crea%ve
Medita%ons
on
the
value
of
Bread
Kirk
Bloede
Robert
Winter
November
7,
2012

2. Spiritual
Realm
Bread
is
abstractly
symbolic
of
mul5ple
concepts
Soul/Spirit
Physical/Sustenance
Essen%al
Commercial/Banal

3. Spiritual
Realm
• Bread,
the
“staff
of
life,”
is
the
basis
of
the
biblical
story
of
the
loaves
and
the
fishes.
Indeed,
Jesus
says,
“I
am
the
bread
of
life…”
in
John
6:35
• Throughout
the
Chris5an
religion
bread
is
highly
symbolic,
e.g.
communion

4. Essen5al
• Bread
riots
have
threatened
or
even
toppled
powerful
poli5cal
leaders
– Boston
1713
– England,
1709,
1740,
1756-­‐7,
1773,
1782
and
in
par%cular
1795
and
1801
– Richmond,
VA
1863
– Egypt
1977
• Bread
is
an
essen$al
part
of
life

5. Commercial/Banal
• Reflected
in
the
language
–
“bread,
dough”
means
money
• E.g.
“There
ain’t
no
bread
in
the
bread
box
'Cause
we
ain't
got
no
dough”
-­‐
Music
and
lyrics
by
Norton
Buffalo

6. Bread
IS
Value
• Bread
is,
literally
Value
– Sustains
us
physically
– Connects
us
to
our
spiritual
selves
via
its
important
symbolism
– Is
the
ORIGINAL
comfort
food
– The
loaf
of
bread
is
of
IMMENSE
VALUE
as
a
symbol
of
life,
of
spirit,
and
of
sustenance.
It
also
symbolizes
wealth.