agreed.

I would not say "so what?" to the Bible says but but I am one to take it with a grain of salt. I know this sounds like blasphemy to many Christians and to that I echo you in "so what?", I don't care if they think that of me, people, at least in some of the world, can no longer persecute me for thinking different religious beliefs than them.

I'd say I hold this perspective because as a young person I was not convinced that there was a God who loved me by what the Bible said. It was a personal powerful experience with God Himself that convinced me beyond a doubt. No matter what doubts or experiences I have had since then I have been able to remember this event and through this that God loves me. For me reading the Bible would not work in this way.

It is with this frame of reference that I base my faith partially on my experiences and partially on the Bible. I will admit I pick through what is useful and what is not for my faith, I admit it when the literalists do not. There ARE inconsistencies and contradictions, I will admit that and embrace the Bible knowing that I am a beloved Child of God.

The more I have learned about the Bible, theology, Christian history, and the world I could not be a literalist. Too much hate and pain and suffering has resulted from people who thought they were the only one with the correct answers. People will say that is the actions of few and not what is really meant by the Bible (or other holy books but that is not the point) but if you read much of the old testament and some of the new that is not the case. To not read it that way is to be selective.