And you run into plenty of folks who try to think "the Fall" of mankind as depicted in the book of Genesis had something to do with sex. When reality of course is much more subtle, and infinitely more interesting.
*vigorous nod* Not to mention how much the husband/wife writings of Paul, when understood appropriately tell us BOATLOADS about human nature and our anamalistic tendencies, but have been SO misused.
Quote:
Joseph Campbell sees the serpent as a symbol of rebirth, left over from the old pagan religions, which somehow snaked its way into the tale. The shedding of the old hide, etc. My old theology teacher thought the story of Cain and Abel was a remnant of a much older tale of a sacrifice made for the founding of a city. Comparative mythology is also a wealth of interesting things. Ah, to have much more time....
And you see, looking at the environment in which the various parts of the Bible were written can shed SOOO much light on faith. Yet you mention to any fundamentalist pastor that parts of the Bible might be borrowed from earlier or comparative time texts and their eyes will burst with fire and brimstone. And if I even mention Mithraism ... watch out!
And of course, my favorite reply are those that tell me that I shouldn't read the Bible in an intellectual way. That doing so is putting myself above God. I usually just give up and walk away at that point.
Wouldn't we all like to have more time ...
Chrome
"Recollect me darlin, raise me to your lips, two undernourished egos, four rotating hips"
