Are you and I reading the same bible? -- Final End

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Date Posted: 04:23:49 04/20/02 Sat
Author: Neuminas
Subject: Are you and I reading the same bible?
In reply to: PAUL. 's message, "The bibles easy to understand Noomy," on 19:04:41 04/19/02 Fri

Because I find it quite challenging. Worth the effort, but challening.
Earlier, you said that you have had this conversation many times. I wonder if it's ever gotten anywhere.
One reason it maybe hasn't is because I don't think you're really responding to what I'm saying. I gather you see yourself as a sort-of cyber missionary, and that is a noble calling.
I have known some truly Great missionaries. What seperated them from the mediocre was there ability to hear what people say, and express truths (as they saw them) in a language which spoke to the person and the persons concerns and objections.
Now, you shared with me one interpretation of the flood. But you are claiming, I think, that this is the only logical interpretation one can make from the text. Reference the text, show me how this. Tell me where it says these waters accumulated, tell me which translation you are using.
Furthermore, show me how your interpretation applies to the other issues I mention. I am not debating whether or not God could make a day longer. I am saying that it doesn't make sense for it to have happened the way the bible seems to quite clearly indicate it does happen.
Thirdly, I believe you to be claiming that the whole of the bible is intended literally. If this is so tell me what literal meaning the opening to John has. And if it does not have a literal meaning, why do you get to choose it's metaphoric meaning? Further, why do you get to choose which parts we'll understand symbolically and which we'll understand literally.
(The alternative way to answer my objections is to propose some sort-of blanket criteria which I could apply to these and other cases to end up with the sort of interpretation you propose is truth.)
Fourth, I agree with you that God knows the best way to express his truths. That's precisely what this argument is about. I say he expressed many truths symbolically because he saw that this was the best way to get them across; you say he did so literally; I assume you have reasons that you think God speaks only in a literal fashion.
Fifth, I submit that I you are picking and choosing just as much as I am. It's a common tactic for "conservatives" to make the attack you make on "liberals". The whole thing begins with the assumption that "conservatives" are accurately serving God; and "liberals" are practicing a pseudo-faith. This has yet to be demonstrated.
Finally, (sixth) their is no judgement without interpretation. The act of understanding words is interpretation, the act of assembling their meanings is interpretation, the act of saying things in response to them requires interpretation. Facts uninterpretted can not be acted upon.

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Replies:

Thats a lot to go at Noomy, -- PAUL., 22:04:02 04/20/02 Sat
- If your still waiting Noomy, -- PAUL., 20:29:36 04/24/02 Wed
  - Cool. Thanks for getting back to me. (NT) (NT) -- Noomie, 04:18:27 04/25/02 Thu