Samson
As might be expected, biblical metaphors predominate in this book. "Some were like Samson—mightily blessed by God, but then they fell off His wagon." The phrasing here is a bit odd since the metaphor of falling off the wagon is today typically reserved almost exclusively for failing to control addictive impulses. The author is directly comparing the "hippies" who were at the vanguard of the revolution to Samson in the sense that not all remained committed to their religious fervor consistently over time.
Jesus
The revolution which the author is writing about is centered upon a reaction to the seeming failure of the countercultural revolution of the sixties to provide spiritual sustenance. One very specific simile puts this historical setting of the book into context. "Jesus looked like a hippie." Male hippies were often characterized by long hair and beards which made them resemble the physical appearance of Jesus which was almost universal at the time. The author is suggesting that this physical similarity is an essential part of the revolution since this time period was the first in American history in which this similarity was widespread in American society.
Trust
Chuck Smith is a typical example of the young males of the period who fell almost accidentally into the Jesus revolution. It all begins with the words of an older man. "He seemed like a doctor, or maybe an airplane pilot or a favorite uncle." Important to keep in mind is the time period in which doctors, pilots, and uncles were still iconic figures of trust and authority. The comparison of the man talking to Chuck to these then-trustworthy archetypes serves to indicate how much things have changed over time. The easy trust invested in these figures at the time has disappeared during the intervening decades. Significantly, of course, is that immediate trust in religious leaders has also waned.
Baptism
The rite of baptism looks very strange from an outsider's perspective. One person dunks another beneath the water until "It’s as if he’s been buried." The comparison within this simile encapsulates the whole point of the ritual. Baptism is a symbolic rebirth—a resurrection of the soul that has accepted Jesus as the savior. In this symbolic way, it really almost is after the person being baptized has been buried beneath the water.
Children of Preachers
The offspring of those who preach the gospel must deal with the consequences of this accident of birth in an unfairly public way. "It’s not uncommon for pastors’ kids to feel the fishbowl pressure of other people’s expectations." The metaphorical fishbowl refers to the glass walls of an aquarium which puts the entire life cycle of any fish inside on public display. This metaphorical imagery suggests that natural behavior is difficult for these kids because of this public scrutiny. They must deal with expectations of their own behavior conforming to the religious beliefs their parents teach for a living.
