BluePhantom
Educator (of liberals)
Jefferson felt the same way which is why he created his own version of the bible editing out everything that he believed to be irrelevant.
Yes, as a theist it is a difficult task .
The best I can do in that regard is to study my ass off, consider all perspectives and interpretations, learn about languages and translations, learn about history, learn about ancient cultures and the perspectives of the people who probably wrote these books, think about it deeply, and then meditate upon it and open myself to what my spirit tells me to be true.
That has left me with a very unique and unorthodox theology that does not fit well with modern or traditional Christian thought. But it is what God has revealed to me through my spirit and thus it is between God and I. I think at this point, given the problems with scripture we have been discussing, that's probably the best anyone can do. It strikes me that it is somewhat similar to DT's concept of spiritual atheism in the sense of opening yourself up and allowing your heart/spirit/whatever you wish to call it, direct you. Whether it is God that motivates and directs that or an internal spiritual force...well...that's just a question of how we choose to look at it