Yep, its people who make the world go round, the experiences and backgrounds to how each person comes to the ideas they do interests me too.
You know if you take the Bible literally then where would people be?
For instance
"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched." (Mark 9:43)
Are you then going to self-mutilate if your eyes or hands sinned? Of course not, wouldn't that be better said as some parts literal while others figuratively speaking? The entire statement is a bit sus if you ask me.
I agree. That is a major flaw with many evangelical, and, obviously, fundamental churches. The Bible is not meant to be taken literally in all parts... but more important...is analyzing it philosophically, theologically, and historically to get the real meaning from it. Just reading the Bible without any other knowledge is not conducive to a solid, thorough understanding of it. But that is my opinion, and something I need to do to renew my faith.
Thankfully, there are people like NT Wright and his monumental 6 part series :Christian Origins and the Question of God. This would take a lifetime of constant study to get through, probably. He is one of the best theologians we have in our time and he provides a solid defense of Christianity as far as I can tell. I just obtained his books and I am committed to the massive task of reading them. They are very dense, but, nonetheless, the amount of information here is extremely exciting.
The New Testament and the People of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God)