If I could change one thing about religion...

[robvalue]

Someone I know thinks virtually the entire OT is metaphorical, yet the NT is literally true.

(Obviously there's a problem with the second bit due to contradictory accounts.)

Although this makes no sense to me, I like it as an approach. It's an inventive way of dismissing all links to the atrocious former text, rather than making up weak apologetics. If this message was propagated, it would improve the religion in my opinion. Then taking the NT literally is a very strange shift, but since it's the less harmful of the two, it's a good compromise. I suppose it's an admission of cognitive dissidence. "Don't like all that bit, it can't be part of the religion."

Good. I agree. Tell people it's not part of the religion. (Serving suggestion only). The oral myths are the religion.