that was well said, IMO. Indeed many years ago I saw a series of oral interpretations (you know readings) of Genesis by renowned Hebrew/ancient Hebrew scholars. Of course none of these were the translated words that I have read. It was when so interpreted, rather poetic, and all full of mystery as opposed to the comparatively dry timeline in what I read.
I am firmly in the camp of the notion that one uses a thermometer to measure temperature, a ruler to measure length, and they certainly do no use science to measure theology or theology to measure science.
Obviously I have taken some stabs at Christian theology, and in general my thoughts revolve around the many trinity/virginbirth/ressurection pagan myths for the thousand or so years before Christianity in or about that general region, the migration towards occupying pagan timeslots (all of a sudden Christ was born at the winter solstice and his ressurection coincidentally falls smack dab in the middle of every pagan spring rite and Jewish Passover to boot), and I guess through my Darwin eyes conclude ...so this is the one that won, ehh., with no particular reverence to that particular myth, or faith, or whatever.
It does not say I do not value faith, or myth, or whatever. For me it is a means to convey a certain sensibility we all seems to almost invariable feel. The golden rule, turn the other cheek, let he who has not cast first and so on. If faith provides structure for these things, benevolent structure, then I find considerable value in it.
If and when it is used to condemn, silence, or worse ... then I'm a bit less patient with it as a structure or institution.
In the end I actually consider myself a person of faith, but not of any particular construction afforded by recognized religion, and I do not seek salvation or immortality or any such thing in my faith. I simply think I am, my friends children and neighbors are, and some things are simply better than others for me, they, and them.
And then I die, and maybe somebody lights a candle for me.
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