Where/how do believers draw the line and why?

where do believers make the distinction between what parts of the bible to take literally and what parts not to, and why?My contention is the biblical writings are so open to interpretation that it has caused the many sects within the primary faith itself.Edited by Spektical, : No reason given.

what do you mean it needs to evolve? Its a pretty direct question.

But what is the concept of GOD? what's the reason for it? and don't you think we need a new concept or allow the concept to evolve to something that suits the zeitgeist?The story of the tower of Babel puzzles me. How do christians view it (literally/figuratively)?Maybe that single story is truly the definition of God...that he/she/it is greater than us because as the saying goes ...the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

And what do you think the story is about or its moral is?

huh?We work for a living because of the the way nature/evolution works ie. adapting to our environment.We don't like snakes because its ingrained in our brains from birth by people who's ignorant or agnostic ancestors were constantly being killed off by snake bites.Childbirth seems harder for humans because we have a more complex brain that is more sensitive and oral than animals.but what does that have to do with the story of babel?

well that was useless.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is more to the tower story than being a 'just so story'. Just like the grim fairy tales....or maybe I'm just giving the people of back then way too much intellectual credit.The question is still unaswered....why do religious people take some stories literally and some not? What makes them so sure about their decision? and if these stories are open to interpretation because of individuality, then why universalize them into beliefs?

Because I have faith and hope in humanity.The story of Babel is a very profound one to me because it conveys how wonderfully creative yet trapped the human race was/is. It shows that if we came together alot of things can be accomplished. God is a means, not an end, and hence is ultimately irrelevant to our lives.

Good and true point, God is a hindrance. You should try applying the opposite to the stories in the bible and see what happens (for fun!). That's a very obtuse perspective Ringo. Maybe I should've just plainly asked why are religious people living a lie? But of course the admins of this forum would never allow that.

That's the reason for YOU and the rest of the people who have been brainwashed in early childhood. Its not the reason for ME, and to be close minded about accepting the possibility of other interpretations of ancient stories such as biblical ones is a sin.I'll give you another example: The story of Cain and Abel.

Why?

What is the popular interpretation of this story?

And I am not personally satisfied with that response jar.

fair enough.The popular belief of the story is about the relationship with God and the choices the 2 brothers made. However, the story is really about survival.

That was my contention to begin with ringo....are you gonna contribute something of your own or just describe what I said?Phat was really the only person who had the response I was looking for. The point I'm trying to make is that these stories are taught to us by the immediate adults who we grew up with. They taught these stories with love and conviction, so we learned it as love and conviction. Its a euphoric state no-one ever wants to challenge. However, euophoria is a fake blanket of security.I know that Phat and other christians believe what they believe because they think it makes them better. But how does a person decide to be rational about certain things and irrational about others? Why has not a single person taken up the challenge of introspection....not a contextual one, REAL introspection?Edited by Spektical, : No reason given.