(June 15, 2012 at 6:29 pm)Colanth Wrote: The OT was 4 separate "Bibles", written by 4 different groups of people ("the Jews" was never a single coherent group) with 4 different stories.What? No it wasn't. I THINK you are discussing the documentary hypothesis, which has fallen out of favor in modern literary analysis, but that refers to the Torah and not the "Bible", and there was never "4 different stories" either.
Quote:(There were different Abraham/Isaac stories too - in one, God never told Abraham to bring Isaac, in one Abraham killed Isaac and we never heard of him again. The current story wasn't in any of the originals.)Wait what? What different stories, and what "originals"? Honest question. I am very very close to calling bs here, but I am biting my tongue waiting for your response on the very odd chance I may learn something new.
Quote:Where would that eye have been to witness the creation of everything? It didn't exist until after it (at least) was created.That is my point
(June 16, 2012 at 11:59 am)FallentoReason Wrote: Have you ever wondered if the Gospels were written as allegories like Genesis was?No, though parts of them do read allegorically and can be seen that way (I always use the example of the three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh), not to mention the plethora of actual parables. Not all of the Gospels, no, nor does that stand up to even secular textual literary criticism, let alone Catholic doctrine.
There's also many examples in the Bible where everyone agrees or disagrees. But you are right that most of the individual stories in the Bible are important for their spiritual meanings.
Mary Immaculate, star of the morning
Chosen before the creation began
Chosen to bring for your bridal adorning
Woe to the serpent and rescue to man.
Sinners, we honor your sinless perfection;
Fallen and weak, for your pity we plead;
Grand us the shield of your sovereign protection,
Measure your aid by the depth of our need.
Bend from your throne at the voice of our crying,
Bend to this earth which your footsteps have trod;
Stretch out your arms to us, living and dying,
Mary Immaculate, Mother of God.
Chosen before the creation began
Chosen to bring for your bridal adorning
Woe to the serpent and rescue to man.
Sinners, we honor your sinless perfection;
Fallen and weak, for your pity we plead;
Grand us the shield of your sovereign protection,
Measure your aid by the depth of our need.
Bend from your throne at the voice of our crying,
Bend to this earth which your footsteps have trod;
Stretch out your arms to us, living and dying,
Mary Immaculate, Mother of God.
