The Bible

[Anomalocaris]

I agree with Chuck. The literal meaning is always the same. That's why it's literal.

Metaphorical meanings are metaphorical.... but they are, then, actually, genuinely - literally - metaphorical otherwise they're not metaphorical.

Take the statement "The Bible is a shabby piece of shit", then, standing alone, apart from any context of authorial intent. What is the objective meaning of this statement?

The objective meaning of "shabby" is "showing signs of wear, use, and neglect".

The objective meaning of "a piece of shit" is "any object, person, or other existing thing that works incorrectly, is too expensive, or just plain sucks".

The objective meaning of "The Bible is a shabby piece of shit" is "The shifting collection of well worn primitive written superstition of dubious authorship and repugnant moral implication, favored in some of its parts by christians and in other of its parts by the jews, has always worked incorrectly, just plain sucks, and is too expensive even if being given away for free."