(September 10, 2019 at 4:02 pm)Acrobat Wrote: Having a vision can, I can compare human beings having a visionary experience to monkeys reacting to a red ball.
Well, we can agree to disagree. I think your explanation is complete dog shit. You think it makes perfect sense. Everyone has an opinion.
(September 10, 2019 at 4:02 pm)Acrobat Wrote: It also the presence of wording, words like "tree of knowledge of good and evil", sound highly symbolic. It should be said that even Literalist don't disagree with the metaphorical nature of the genesis account, they accept that, and believe it's literal. Not that taking it as literal negates it's metaphorical components. I almost never have to appeal to literalism, or non-literalism to discuss the meaning of the passages here.
Why I believe the story is not literal, is not all that important to my christian beliefs. It's just not problematic.
It sounds highly symbolic to you. So what? You might as well be trying to convince me that red velvet cake is better than vanilla. All you've done is essentially provide your opinion as to why you think the passage is allegorical.
(September 10, 2019 at 4:02 pm)Acrobat Wrote: Every portion of scripture is to be judged on its own merits. Passages about ritual and dietary rules in the OT were meant to be followed literally, though they also had symbolic importance as well, like we could say of wedding rings. There's a literal ring my wife wants me to put on her finger, that symbolizes our union. Instructions about stoning x offenders, were all taken quite literally, etc....
There has to be direct or indirect reasons to assume a passage is literal or historical, if those are entirely absent, then it might not be that clear one way or the other, and we have to proceed with that ambiguity.
And you haven't pointed out anything about my reasoning thats flawed. If my reasoning is sound, and you just don't agree with my conclusions, then I can't do anything about that.
Because you haven't given any concrete reasoning for anything. You've basically just gone around in circles over and over, giving your opinion on why you think you're right. What am I suppose to do? Tell you your opinion is wrong? I couldn't care less.
I've learned that you don't really have a good reason to think what you think, and that tells me enough about you.
(September 10, 2019 at 4:02 pm)Acrobat Wrote: I have. A few times already. I also indicated that I was not insinuating anything of the sort. If you're not satisfied with the response, we're just going to have to move on, rather than dwell on it.
Well, not really, but okay.
Once again, imagine I suggested a connection between schizophrenia and Christianity. But oh! It's just a legitimate concern I have! I'm not making fun of you, I swear.
Your thinly veiled nonsense is duly noted.
If you're frightened of dying, and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the Earth.
