Metaphor vs. Literal

If "being outside of time" just means "eternal", why didn't you just say God is eternal?I don't see what any of this has to do with the dating of Genesis, though.

Sorry, what I meant is does the description we find in Genesis come from the POV(point of view)of someone there at the time? Or is it coloured by the POV of Moses?
IOW, is Moses relating the story to his followers using their time perspective, or is he writing down history as it was recorded?Humour me as I`m leading up to a point.

You seem to have become entangled in some version of deconstructionism --which it seems to me is designed to drive people crazy and destroy reality. That's all I can conclude.Most of the Bible is written straightforwardly. If you have a problem understanding certain parts, simply read until you come to the simple parts. There are many simple parts, that have no ambiguity, that are clear as written, IF you read them simply and normally, that is, for which any interpretation is just somebody's insistence on making it mean something it clearly doesn't mean.

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Mat 7:14 Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

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1Cr 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.

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This message has been edited by Faith, 09-24-2005 10:02 PM

Hey folks, I have been a bit busy today to engage this topic as of yet. I just poped in to have quick look at how things were progressing...Herpeton... what does this have to do with Metaphorical interpretations vs. Literal ones?Has anyone as of yet proposed an agreeable criteria as to what the lines of demarcation between litteral and metaphorical is? Especialy with respect to the bible.Anyway, I'll be back when I can. Just steped in to protect this topics integrety.

"Destroy reality"? If you believe that a school of philosophical thought could unravel the fabric of the cosmos, haven't you already succumbed to deconstructionism?Thoughts are powerful but they're not that powerful. It's hilarious to me that you'll find literally any ridiculous philosophy credible, swallow any ridiculous theology, but expose you to the best-supported models in the scientific world, and you balk.

Sorry, I guess I was talking shorthand. By "destroy reality" I meant "destroy our grip on reality" or "destroy our sense of reality" or maybe more like "destroy our belief in a reality that is coherent and dependable."This message has been edited by Faith, 09-24-2005 10:41 PM

Oh, but the idea that a God exists that can and will intervene, at any time or place and for any or no reason, regardless of the constraints of physical law, doesn't do that?

I suppose if that really described God it would be a bit disorienting, but it doesn't describe the real God, so no. His interventions are never without reason or without warning either.

So, the Lord doesn't move in mysterious ways?You'll have to pardon me, Faith. All I know about your god is what you believers tell me about it. The fact that none of you can seem to keep your stories straight is very confusing.

Please read Message 2. Jar requests that discussion be limited to Yaro and Faith, and it only takes two messages before it's ignored. Sheesh!

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--	Percy
	EvC Forum Director

Sure thing boss, I'll be sure not to post on the thread...OOPS!

Hi, Percy. Well, it did say initially. In the proud traditions of EvC, doesn`t that mean by Post 5?

Sorry, Boss. I contributed to that thing taking off as well...
Maybe we all need to learn to actually read the opening posts before replying to a new thread!

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We can even convince ourselves that He does not exist!

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No, phat, we first have to be taught by the culture that the supernatural exists.Otherwise, why would religious belief be so regional? In the US are lots of Christians, in Saudi Arabia there are lots of Muslims, in Japan there are lots of Buddhists.Similarly, there are "children's myths" such as the Santa Claus myth, in just about every culture that all the adults know aren't true but we teach to all the children. When the children grow older they realize that nobody who is an adult actually believes that Santa Claus actually exists, and that it was their parents leaving the gifts under the tree and their own imaginations that convinced them that Santa was real in past years, so they stop believing.Those of us who stop believing in the supernatural altogether are using the same process.We aren't born believing; we have to be taught to believe.This message has been edited by schrafinator, 09-25-2005 08:23 AM

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My posts about JEPD are my personal observations based on facts of history. I see they have ignited discord, therefore I will not pursue them anymore.

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No, no, you can discuss the JEPD all you want if you start a thread on it.