Biblical literalists

[Roses]

I don't get the people who believe every word in the Bible is literally true. I don't deny that there are some good things in that book, which are worth taking on board, but much of it lacks credibility. The Bible is open to a myriad interpretations, some of which are completely bonkers, as this forum knows only too well

Even people of high intelligence can be Biblical literalists, it is as if they compartmentalise their brains so that logic don't impinge. I wonder if the literalists are scared to question the Bible in case they end up in the mythical firey furnace?

If you believe the Bible is literally true, please explain why you think it is so.

[Dicky Underpants]

Even people of high intelligence can be Biblical literalists, it is as if they compartmentalise their brains so that logic don't impinge.

And yet you have a strange desire to cite biblical texts as if the literal interpretation were the only one - just so that you can disagree with it.

Rhiannon cited a metaphorical interpretation of the text involving the Gadarene Swine. Could you tell us what you think of that interpretation?

The way fundamentalists approach the question of 'truth' in the Bible is complicated - to say that it involves believing every word is 'literally' true doesn't really fully describe their approach. It can be quite amusing to follow the tangles they get themselves into in deciding what is 'literal' and what isn't (and of course, it varies hugely from sect to sect), but mostly it's recipe for being dragged into madness.

[Roses]

And yet you have a strange desire to cite biblical texts as if the literal interpretation were the only one - just so that you can disagree with it.

Rhiannon cited a metaphorical interpretation of the text involving the Gadarene Swine. Could you tell us what you think of that interpretation?

The way fundamentalists approach the question of 'truth' in the Bible is complicated - to say that it involves believing every word is 'literally' true doesn't really fully describe their approach. It can be quite amusing to follow the tangles they get themselves into in deciding what is 'literal' and what isn't (and of course, it varies hugely from sect to sect), but mostly it's recipe for being dragged into madness.

And where have I done that?

[Nearly Sane]

And where have I done that?

He gave an example in the post as regards the Gadarene swine.

[Roses]

He gave an example in the post as regards the Gadarene swine.

But that is just a point of view, which might have veracity, or not, I don't know.