John,
I have long held that there is indeed a great deal of overplaying certain takes on scripture, particularly among literalists, the KJV-Only crowd, etc.
It's a shame, too, since there is a lot to be gained from a differant sort of study, one which does not ask the reader to check his brain or life experience at the door. As to how one might ought to read the Bible, John Wesley said, "the literal sense of every text is to be taken,
if it be not contradictory to some other texts." (
Letters:"To Sam Furly", III, 129,
John Wesleys Theology, R. Burtner & R.Chiles,1982, p.20)
It would appear from this quote that Wesley allowed for contradictions when reading literalisticly. What suprises me is that others cannot see the failing in such a rigid position, when it so obviously struggles. (P.S. I was raised in an arch literalist Southern Baptist home with a fundimental indoctrination of scripture. I cannot adhere to that thinking now. That is to suggest that it is not all-or-nothing when it comes to the value of the Bible. I can reject the literalistic position and still gain greatly from a differant sort of reading.)
Thanks,
-Shiloh
™ Version 4.2
