Metaphor vs. Litteral

In the Random God Rant thread me and Faith were having a (quite heated) discussion about the inerrency of the bible and the relevance of myths and so on.Basically the argument got to a point where the question essentially became when can we regard something as literal vs. metaphorical.It seems to me that when concrete, indisputable evidence is presented, the retreat for the Christian becomes "Oh, well then that's a metaphor." This seems to me to be intellectually dishonest.It is based on the foregone conclusion that the bible is inerrant and cannot contain any error. Thus if a factual error is presented, it becomes a metaphor, safe from scrutiny.Now this is my view, perhaps I am mistaken. What is the criteria inerrantists use when determining weather or not something is metaphor or literal? Is it the level of believability of events? Or something else.

Faith does not have permission to post in the Bible Accuracy and Inerrancy forum since it is science based. I can place this in one of the Faith forums but there, all that is needed to refute your position is to say "I don't believe you."Given those constraints, do you want this promoted to one of the Faith forums and if so, which one?

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The Bible: Accuracy and InerrancyI think that's the best place for it. I belive moderation would be required to actually GET somwhere.

But Faith cannot reply to you in BA&I.

I suppose you can put it in Faith and Belief then.Can I request that Faith present a standard of evidence? A criteria for evaluation, that we can agree on?Because I don't want this to degenerate into a long list of assertions, I want criteria for evaluation that the both of us can accept. Further, I would like Faith to follow the arguemnt and the logic where it leads, not where she would have it go.

I don't think this has much of a future but I will promote the OP to Faith and belief but add a request that it be limited at least initial to you and Faith and that before discussing the OP the two of you decide on what criteria for evaluation is acceptable. That would be something that is decided between you and Faith.If that is acceptable to you just respond and I'llmove it over.

*hesitantly*... *sigh*... ok, let 'er rip.