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tpaine
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Have you met any Christians who approach their religion and belief from an intellectual perspective? Then you are a lucky person indeed, for such types of Christians are few and far between. These are usually the types who are considered most of the regular narratives from the bible and have re-interpreted them to fit the prevailing societal norms. The treat large portions of the Old Testament as mainly non-literal, allegorical or metaphoric. Their criteria for deciding which elements are metaphor is generally the scientific method. Basically, where a story violently contradicts the facts, these stories are given a re-interpretation. Thus theistic evolutions, and Old Earth Creationists (OEC) do not accepts the Genesis accounts, nor the Noah Flood accounts. On the whole, the non-literal Christians are sophisticated people who are embarassed by their literal cousins. The non-literal are less likely to quote chapter and verse from the bible to support any criticism of the bible. They are more likely to resort to independent complex philosophical arguments.
On the other hand, there are the filter-feeders of reason, the literalist, who do not see the illogic of quoting chapter and verse and preaching when put under intellectual pressure to provide evidence for their beliefs. They general enjoy the perverse luxury of not having to be philosophical consistent nevermind factually correct.
This forum is replete with this lower breed of Christians. They would sooner preach to you than think, as if thinking hurts their minds. Well, I have this to say to you if you are so inclined; refrain from preaching and from using the bible to defend the bible. That is called circular logic.
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