tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367161100956691682.post3803616780731452400..comments2024-01-28T09:52:30.550-08:00Comments on Arash's World: The Literal versus Figural Reading of the Bible: A Review of The Book of Genesis by Ronald HendelArash Farzanehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12000344680925876563noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367161100956691682.post-2132880836154041642013-08-18T11:07:52.502-07:002013-08-18T11:07:52.502-07:00Thanks, Karen for your observations!
Well, there ...Thanks, Karen for your observations!<br /><br />Well, there is something satisfying (and "fun") when it comes to fundamentalism, namely the fact that one convinces - or deludes - oneself to be absolutely right. And the cognitive dissonance evaporates when you hang out with similarly-minded people since we tell ourselves that that many people cannot be all wrong.<br /><br />It is great that you have found a more liberal version of Christianity these days. In the words of stand-up comedian Lenny Bruce: <br /><br />Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God.Arash Farzanehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12000344680925876563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367161100956691682.post-69484097159544809552013-08-15T19:26:32.845-07:002013-08-15T19:26:32.845-07:00Indeed fundamentalists are giving liberal Christia...Indeed fundamentalists are giving liberal Christians a very bad rap. The persistence of fundamentalism is a mystery although once someone is mired in fundamentalism, it can be very hard to get out even, it seems, with the cognitive dissonance that must arise. I was involved in more fundy Christianity for several years in my twenties and early thirties until I left many years ago. I now belong to a United church, which is about as liberal a Christian church as you can get. But still the concept of heaven and hell is hard for my brain to get away from probably because that information was jammed into my brain when I was only21. When that information is put into children's minds, I think it is that much harder. Other religions seems to have the same situation - how else could devotees of Scientology be explained? They stay despite proof that the Church of Scientology is abusing millions of its members and despite its belief in Xenu. Ditto the Mormons and Joseph Smith. The Jehovah's Witnesses who will die rather than have a blood transfusion because of one misunderstood verse in The Book of Acts. And on and on. At my wee United Church is a Hebrew scholar part-time minister. She has a tremendous understanding of he Bible in a completely non-literal way - fascinating stuff. Perhaps the Bible should only be allowed into the hands of people like her - the literalists shouldn't be allowed to own one much less lecture about it.<br />- KarenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com