to give give jjr some credit for putting his beliefs up on the chopping block amongst us TYT butchers knowing full well his beliefs and convictions would be challenged. I commend that.

JJr5, good for you, and thank you for provoking this kind of discussion.

Of course, you're completely wrong. :)

I won't challenge you on the merits of your particular faith... merely I would ask you to recognize (which you seem to have already done) the strong and distinct difference between your interpretation of the bible and that of the other denominations? You seem to acknowledge the great diversity of Christian belief across the world. So many different thoughts and threads and beliefs regarding the role of the Testaments and of Jesus and of the Verses and Chapters... There are vast differences between the various Christian sects, yes? No?

Literal. Metaphorical.  

I submit that the sheer existence of so many interpretations is evidence enough to question the validity of all of them. The mere fact that these differences exist is evidence enough for the rational/skeptical mind to understand that none of them are grounded in reality. Seriously, friend?  Your almighty god? Your passive god? Your Bible-writing god (maybe he was just a contributing editor?)? He/she/it couldn't see fit to unify the interpretations? Instead it was preferable to engage the humans in centuries of conflict over words and phrases... ? Blood, rape and conquest... really?

Jjr5...  please, give to your faith the same logic and scrutiny to which you give your bank account...   or to which you give your decisions regarding medical care... or to which you give your choices regarding building a safe deck off your back porch...  skepticism, empathy... You're smart enough to understand both.

Brother, understand it's ok to be a human, to love and hate and forgive and learn and treat others well...  Make the best of life, be a good person, use your mind, steer with your heart...

The bible? really? Really?  Come on...