BluePhantom
Educator (of liberals)
Let me just follow up a bit here and point out that the perception one has about the nature and personality of God can be strongly influenced by one's interpretation. If we look at the Lot example again for a second:
Someone who views it that way is going to take the final lesson "don't fuck with God. He will kick your ass if you disobey."
Someone who views it this way is going to reach the final lesson "learn to let things go."
Well what a huge difference in not only the lesson, but in the perception of God that results from it. In the former, God is a pretty vindictive, tyrannical prick. In the latter, He doesn't have to be that way at all.
And so a literal interpreter views the story and concludes "wow God is one mean SOB...he turned that bitch into salt for disobeying"
Someone who views it that way is going to take the final lesson "don't fuck with God. He will kick your ass if you disobey."
where an allegorical interpreter says "ahhhh.....when the past is gone one should focus on the future to avoid bitterness and unhappiness."
Someone who views it this way is going to reach the final lesson "learn to let things go."
Well what a huge difference in not only the lesson, but in the perception of God that results from it. In the former, God is a pretty vindictive, tyrannical prick. In the latter, He doesn't have to be that way at all.