There are no answers in Genesis

[The Architect Of Fate]

No, we just demand freaking consistency in what's to be taken literally and what isn't because Christians seem to have this weird habit of rejecting literalism only when it's convenient and accepting literalism when it suits their agenda. I can at least respect the fact the fundamentalists are willing to bite the bullet or try and defend absurd bits of the bible rather than simply use the "it's not meant to be taken literally cop out"

[Neo-Scholastic]

^^^^ thereby proving my point.

[The Architect Of Fate]

Yes asking Christians to use literalism in a consistent manner. Is such a terrible slight against atheists ......

I don't think the comments above prove what you think it does .....

[Neo-Scholastic]

Yes asking Christians to use literalism in a consistent manner. Is such a terrible slight against atheists ......

I don't think the comments above prove what you think it does .....

I would suggest that you broaden your perspective. Any given text is profound to the extent that it can meaningfully speak to the various inconsistent circumstances of Mankind across time and space.

[The Architect Of Fate]

I would suggest that you broaden your perspective. Any given text is profound to the extent that it can meaningfully speak to the various inconsistent circumstances of Mankind across time and space.

I suggest you figure out your own supposedly divinely-inspired holy book before lecturing other people about it. 

[Jehanne]

Yes asking Christians to use literalism in a consistent manner. Is such a terrible slight against atheists ......

I don't think the comments above prove what you think it does .....

I would suggest that you broaden your perspective. Any given text is profound to the extent that it can meaningfully speak to the various inconsistent circumstances of Mankind across time and space.

Why not say the Song of Roland is inspired? Or, Beowulf?

[Belacqua]

Yes asking Christians to use literalism in a consistent manner. Is such a terrible slight against atheists ......

I don't think the comments above prove what you think it does .....

I would suggest that you broaden your perspective. Any given text is profound to the extent that it can meaningfully  speak to the various inconsistent circumstances of Mankind across time and space.

Once a guy told me he couldn't read the Bible because there was no reliable algorithm to tell him how to do it. I suspect he may have been a cyborg.

[Anomalocaris]

The text does not speak. Contingent circumstances caused the reader to attribute voices to the text. When contingent circumstances allowed some unscrupulous huckster to rally enough suggestable fools into imagining they hear a broadly similar narrative, that narrrative gains moment, and accrue more and more imaginary meaning and wishful “depth” as it goes, based on no underlying truth whatsoever.

[Anomalocaris]

I would suggest that you broaden your perspective. Any given text is profound to the extent that it can meaningfully  speak to the various inconsistent circumstances of Mankind across time and space.

Once a guy told me he couldn't read the Bible because there was no reliable algorithm to tell him how to do it. I suspect he may have been a cyborg.

That cyborg is far more astute than you.

[Angrboda]

FWIW, the most prominent self-identified atheists on AF do seem to think a literal account of Genesis is the only valid one. It is the one belief such atheists share with religious fundamentalists. I am not saying that common belief is indicative of any particular mindset. At the same time, it is not complimentary to either IMHO.

We see what we want to see. I'm seeing a galloping case of confirmation bias. But I suppose like all partisan divides, you are eager to find cause to castigate those unlike you and to embrace myths and stereotypes which stroke your need to feel superior, just as I am in my own way. I think you actually believe the lies you tell yourself more uncritically than many here, though. Unfortunately for the world at large, conservatives more than others have extended the scaffolding for what they believe out into the world of fantasy. It serves your needs. And that's probably as far as it matters to you.

Let me ask you this. Would it be acceptable to you if every word in the bible was not literally true, that there was not one fact or truth to be found anywhere between the covers? Obviously not. So it's only a matter of degree. You want certain things alone to be regarded as true, and resent anybody other than you that makes different choices. I have jested about it here and there, but basically you are usurping God. And you see nothing wrong with what you do.