Misconceptions of Christian theology

[Neo-Scholastic]

I find that the only logical thing a Christian could do is believe the Bible word for word. I understand why some of my friends are compelled to do this, because if we diminish everything by saying the OT is metaphorical, supernatural events don't happen, evolution is true & not all disbelievers will go to hell, then what do you have left?

Ummm...just about everything important. The Word of God opens up when approached with the understanding that an inner spiritual meaning rests just below the surface. The Word itself confesses that it contains deep and profound mysteries not readily apparent from its literal meaning:

"I will open my mouth in a parable : I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us." Psalm 78:2,3

Code:

“I have also spoken to the prophets, and gave numerous visions; And through the prophets I gave parables." Hosea 12:10

“To whom would He teach knowledge? And to whom would He interpret the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just taken from the breast? For He says, ‘Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line, a little here, a little there.’” Indeed He will speak to to this people through stammering lips and a foreign tongue.” Isaiah 28:9-11

I'm not saying that the miracles and such didn't actually happen. I believe they did. As history those details are not important to me, nor to most people. What matters most is the spiritual meaning conveyed by the stories.The spiritual meaning is addressed to man's inward and rational thought, his ability to see and to know spiritual things.

In accommodating the Scriptures to the minds of men, our Lord teaches us using the terms and ideas common to our natural thought, and yet by giving them an inner meaning, which is figurative, well-defined and exact. For example, references in the bible about "light" always have to do with our ability to perceive spiritual truths. That idea finds its way into everyday speech like when you say, "I see the light."

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I would argue, as Paul did, that while we're all of one body, we're different parts of that body, with different functions and purposes.

So, which one of you is the sphincter?

The anus performs an important spiritual function: it casts away evil and purges the body of impurities.