(March 31, 2018 at 11:59 am)MysticKnight Wrote:(March 31, 2018 at 11:57 am)Grandizer Wrote: The way I generally interpret what I read is to take the words and intended meaning literally by default, allowing the overall context to determine whether I should adjust my initial interpretation in order to be in line with the context. What I don't do by default is romanticize the overall meaning of the text just so I can feel better about it.
I understand, but trying to seeing reasons that justify, aren't necessarily romanticizing it.
But if we already know what the justifications were historically, then why try to come up with better and fairly new justifications just to suit the sensibilities of the more civilized religious mind? It doesn't come off as honest to me. People back then didn't know any better compared to us, so they did shit back then that was considered ok to them but is now clearly seen as barbaric to us, and so naturally ancient writings are going to contain verses and passages that just aren't going to appeal morally/ethically to us. And this includes the Qur'an, whether you like it or not. There is nothing special about the Qur'an that would make me want to reconsider my interpretations of the more aggressive verses in it just based on your "what if" argument.
