"Certain leftists -- such as yourself -- insist on reading them literally, but if you do so, all you understand is what literal-minded fundamentalists may get out of them. The thing is that most people of any religious faith are not fundamentalists, so they don't read the texts literally, which is the reason why they can reconcile faith and science."
Yoshie,
So if they're symbolic, why are they any more important than any other work of symbolic literature? Surely not because these particular "symbolic" works come from on-high?
My experience is that interpretations of religious texts like the Bible or Qur'an are selectively symbolic and also selectively literal, depending on the agenda a person's trying to push. Sura 2 of the Qur'an stipulates what a bride's dowery should be to her husband's family. What is this symbolic of?
In fact, to Muslims in 700 AD that Sura wasn't symbolic -- it was what you were supposed to do. Same with one of the 5 Pillars of Islam -- giving a portion of one's wealth to a mosque or charity. That is a literal commandment. And the same with the mandatory taking of a Hajj pilgrimage at least once in one's life, and fasting during Ramadan. Is that "symbolic," reading about that, or is there a commandment to do it. If so, why not jut say, "Well, it's only symbolic, pass me the pork rinds." The impregnation of the Virgin Mary -- is that now suddenly "symbolic," because it stretches credulity? How does one tell? Can you tell us, Yoshie, which parts are meant as direct orders from God (no alcohol, rapist gets head cut of -- both in Qur'an)? Laws are prescribed in these books. Their source is the almighty God. Period. If you know what they "symbolize," tell me.
So, Leviticus asks women on their period to not sit on beds that men are going to sit on. Wow, what symbolism! What a convenient escape route for embarrassing edicts from a deity someone conjured up centuries ago.
No, Jesus did not really raise the dead, as both the Bible and Qur'an say he did. That's "symbolic," too, I guess -- since it's impossible to do? Did he exist as a flesh and blood Prophet, though? Suddenly, that part ain't so symbolic. Yes, actually, he literally did. Ohhh. Pretty confusing.
-B.
PS. Carroll Cox, gonna back me up here? :)
Hah.