But Euonymus alatus is a delightful plant.

It looks wonderful in the Fall, here in Minnesota! I've yet to hear it say a word, though...

No matter what the rest of the book says.

The parting of the Red Sea? Not bloody likely. Stinking corpses coming back to life? I think not. Someone getting swallowed by a fish and then emerging alive? Not a chance. Some lady turning into a pillar of salt? I can't even imagine.

I don't know, but how many impossible things does a guy have to believe?

Jesus told followers to be " sly as snakes.." And Jesus himself said he would be lifted up, as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness.

So the talking snakes would be. ..

Ask a magician to show you how its done.

Nah...I don't believe that, either. They're not. You're supposed to believe them. Really. If you don't, well, you don't think the God can do anything it wants to. If it's a God, it can, see...

Unbelievable...

Funny how that works. At least those who take all of it literally are more honest.

Once you start questioning one thing, the whole thing starts to unravel.

Evidently you have to believe in it to define what the metaphors are because nobody else is qualified.

I'm not sure what the metaphorical story is with the talking donkey, but I can only imagine it gets better from there.

That way, next time we encounter new knowledge, you can simply reinterpret the metaphor and claim it meant that all along. Then still it back in your pocket until the next time.

they take literally and what the think is metaphoric or symbolic. It's hard to take such people seriously at all.

Never.

Happened.

I hate sounding like I'm belittling those who believe, but for the love of shit! Seriously?! Religion was only created to "explain" stuff humans couldn't explain. Yeah, they may have thrown stuff in there to guide people on how they should act, but it's utter nonsense! I have friends who are christians and it blows my mind. They are otherwise very smart people, but it almost seems like they are the way they are because they fear that this is all there is. They also seem to fear that if they don't believe, they will burn for eternity in a lake of fire. Religion destroys your ability to think critically, not to mention that it has views that are massively disgusting regarding rights all people should have. Personally, i feel if a god existed and allowed all the terrible shit that happens in the world to happen without stopping it, that god can go fuck itself. I want nothing to do with it.

Organized religion serves several useful purposes. It can be used to motivate people to march to their death defending those in power or aggressively pursuing more power. It also can be used to pacify those who are enslaved or starving. It can enrich those who pretend to speak authoritatively about it. You can use it to manipulate people into conformity. Unite them under a common cause. It can provide unquestionable laws, and legitimacy of totalitarianism. It can be used to provide control of currency and property. The list goes on and on.

Moses could have inhaled the smoke and heard God's voice. A lot of ancient religions were based on psychoactive plants that were used during rituals and caused the observer to experience visions. There are still a lot of people who use many different substances that cause visions. To many of them, it's a religious or spiritual experience. If you haven't tried it, I recommend it, just make sure you're somewhere safe and you have someone experienced who can act as a guide.

You know, the two jokers who got us ALL cursed because they ate some fruit they weren't supposed to.