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Originally Posted by NonLemming
Legion: That's so mean. I understand if the only way to express disagreement is to suggest suicide, but it's a little tacky.
I enjoy reading other people's opinions, even if they are different from mine. Makes me think a little. And yes I do pray for my own evolution as well as others. God knows we need it.
Sorry I struck the nerve in you to cause such a response.
Therapy may help, it may not.
Go well.
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Apologies, Lemming-of-the-Non-variety. I was trying to use moderated sarcasm and it did come off sounding mean. I'll do better.
Thanks
To SolInvinctus:
Logic should never be used at the expense of emotion. Nor have I gone to the other extreme and abandoned logic. I was questioning into your reasoning and motivations, which is hardly emotional.
(I do know what Legion means in regards to the demon/pig story. Thanks. It's an inside joke with myself.)
To all you folks:
Obviously, we cannot interpret everything in the Bible as literal, since there are different types of literature within the Bible. And yes, God is bigger than simple stories. On that we agree. However, I am still curious how you decide what is allegorical/metaphorical and what is not. What is the basis of your discrimination between literal and allegorical, besides personal inclination? I appreciate NathanATX indicating that he honors how the Spirit speaks to me, but if the Spirit is speaking different things to us, then how can it be the same Spirit? How can you feel secure in personal beliefs that you do not consider right or wrong? God is unchanging and immutable. His counsels are everlasting throughout all eternity and there can be no contradiction within Him. God does not adapt to us, nor is His Gospel made to conform to our human motives and desires. It is we that must change, that must examine our lives and enter into obedience with the eternal laws of God's wisdom and covenant specified in the Holy Scriptures.
The story of Adam and Eve may indeed be allegorical, but then what is the significance of the characters in the allegory? Are Biblical allegories not used for teaching godly living? Dismissing the Bible as allegorical does not get anyone off the hook. Biblical allegory and parable is just as potent as Biblical history.
Is there absolute truth? Is there any kind of ultimate morality or standard of righteousness? What is the Bible? Who is God?This must be the question we address, rather than the fine points of doctrine and interpretation that only serve as a temporary smoke screen and only get us bogged down.
thanks all