G
Ginkgo
Guest
There are 3 categories of people. The first category includes literalists, The second category includes those who reject Articles of Faith, and the third includes those who occupy a nebulous region between literal interpretation and loose metaphorical interpretation.
Literalists, otherwise known as Fundamentalists in Christian sects, adopt sola scriptura because they view Articles of Faith as infallible and divinely inspired and thus heed every word with objectivity. This ironically contradicts many of the Bible's elements and frequent use of parables and metaphors, some of which are daunting to separate from historicity. When the Bible is approached with a literalist perspective, the reader must rectify everything within it, including internal contradictions - a list of which can be found here. Let's not forget that Articles of Faith have been translated and reconstructed to suite the venerations of those who did so. Human error aside, the literalist embraces Articles of Faith upon the act of circular and fallacious reasoning, or "I'm correct because I'm correct", which is precisely what Articles of Faith claim, hence the crucial "Faith". Naturally, faith is characterized by a belief that is untouched by reason. Catholics would tell you that you must stir them both, but they are incongruous like oil and water.
In the center ring we have those who dwell in the ambiguous area of observing scripture impartially with external evidence that would otherwise contradict it. They derive their own meaning from scripture, and always have been, hence the fragmentation of religious sects. However, once they derive subjective meaning from objective claims, they undo objective meaning, which is the gestalt of religion itself. They basically claim to be God by relaying their understanding of "objective truth". There is no such axiom among mankind, though it is readily seen how such a claim among men could instigate a cult following, and even martyrdom. How many lives have been lost in the name of Christ, in the name of Allah, in the name of Democracy, Communism, Buddhism?... the list continues and will continue until the end of time. Martyrdom and blood sacrifice does not indicate invariable truth, it only indicates a foolhardy illusion that one has obtained the truth. One should never have to prove one's-self by self-sacrifice!!!
Lastly, there are those who go about their daily lives, mulling over what has been granted to them through this gift that we call life, harboring their own reasons and meanings for being who they are - which, as far as I can tell, is the only responsible, creative, and liberating path to follow. For me, anyway.
Literalists, otherwise known as Fundamentalists in Christian sects, adopt sola scriptura because they view Articles of Faith as infallible and divinely inspired and thus heed every word with objectivity. This ironically contradicts many of the Bible's elements and frequent use of parables and metaphors, some of which are daunting to separate from historicity. When the Bible is approached with a literalist perspective, the reader must rectify everything within it, including internal contradictions - a list of which can be found here. Let's not forget that Articles of Faith have been translated and reconstructed to suite the venerations of those who did so. Human error aside, the literalist embraces Articles of Faith upon the act of circular and fallacious reasoning, or "I'm correct because I'm correct", which is precisely what Articles of Faith claim, hence the crucial "Faith". Naturally, faith is characterized by a belief that is untouched by reason. Catholics would tell you that you must stir them both, but they are incongruous like oil and water.
In the center ring we have those who dwell in the ambiguous area of observing scripture impartially with external evidence that would otherwise contradict it. They derive their own meaning from scripture, and always have been, hence the fragmentation of religious sects. However, once they derive subjective meaning from objective claims, they undo objective meaning, which is the gestalt of religion itself. They basically claim to be God by relaying their understanding of "objective truth". There is no such axiom among mankind, though it is readily seen how such a claim among men could instigate a cult following, and even martyrdom. How many lives have been lost in the name of Christ, in the name of Allah, in the name of Democracy, Communism, Buddhism?... the list continues and will continue until the end of time. Martyrdom and blood sacrifice does not indicate invariable truth, it only indicates a foolhardy illusion that one has obtained the truth. One should never have to prove one's-self by self-sacrifice!!!
Lastly, there are those who go about their daily lives, mulling over what has been granted to them through this gift that we call life, harboring their own reasons and meanings for being who they are - which, as far as I can tell, is the only responsible, creative, and liberating path to follow. For me, anyway.