What IS good, and how do we determine it?

[Catholic_Lady]

For example, someone is free to believe in the story of genesis literally, or allegorically. 

No, they are not...you might want to start researching your own doctrine before you post...you have a history of misrepresenting the position of the  church.

You -must- believe in a literal Adam and Eve, period.  You - believe that all human beings are descended from these two "first parents", period.  You -must- believe that the fall of man was an actual -event-, period.

You are correct. But exactly how all of that played out is left up for individual assessment. And it can be far from believing that the universe was made in seven days 6 thousand years ago, that Adam and Even just solidified from dust and from a rib of the other, that the garden of Eden existed as a paradise, that God commanded them not to eat fruit from a specific tree, that a snake tempted them, and that they ate an apple.

That story can be taken either allegorically or literally.

As I have told you before Rhythm, you are an intelligent individual, and I can see that. But I promise you, I have a better understanding of my own religion than you do. ;-)

The link below is a Catholic apologist speaking about the story of Jonah and the whale as an example:

{snip}

When it comes to OT stories, Catholics are free to believe in the allegorical or literal sense.

Please read the rules- no posting links until you've been a member for 30 days and contributed 30 posts- rexbeccarox