(June 1, 2021 at 9:20 am)Belacqua Wrote:(June 1, 2021 at 9:07 am)Brian37 Wrote: You can make any argument you want, but the readers literally took the fantastic claims as real.
Some of "the readers" did and some of them didn't. You seem unaware of how many did not.
Are you aware that the ancient world was actually much more comfortable with allegorical interpretation than modern people are? That hero-narratives, like the gospels, were intended to teach a message and not convey journalism?
Quote:It was much more the case back then.
What's asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.
Quote:Augustine was not one of the writers of the bible in any case. He lived way after the fact.
That's right. Fourth to fifth century. And entirely comfortable with non-literal readings.
Not the point. How about you go back and read my post about Buddha mythology in this thread. My attitude about newer interpretations of ANY religion do not change the fact that others literally believe fantastic claims. Buddhists believe in fantastic claims too.
I don't care what his personal interpretation was, that does not change that readers prior to him, and still even today take the fantastic claims in the bible literally. The bible is meant to be taken literally. Cherry picking after the fact is how religion tries to stay relevant.
If the bible weren't meant to be taken literally there would be religious wars. No way for religious or political powers to manipulate society.
