Quote:Certainly, the least respectable position, intellectually speaking, is the second one. Picking and choosing based on personal preference is really just using personal preference as a guide, and only bothering with the Bible when it coincides with what one already wants. It is an intellectually dishonest approach, in which one pretends that one is using the Bible as a guide, but is really just going with personal preference.
That may be "nicer" in practice (or not, depending), but it is intellectually despicable. If the Bible is just another book written by people, as opposed to one that was guided by the hand of God, one should take the third approach and just toss it and stop pretending.
These are actually the biggest reasons I strayed from christianity. Once I started questioning it I found new evidence and ideas that just totally ripped my previous notions to shreds.
I realized I had effectively wasted 20 years of critical thought growth and grieve for what I have lost. Although I don't regret who I became, I still have to deal with my old christian subconscious and wonder how I would have turned out if my parents didn't indoctrinate me like they did.
Indeed I would agree with you that the second option is the most despicable to take. Especially since it gets you in the mind set that it's okay to make up convoluted excuses to cover your ass.
