Itsallaguess wrote:Charlottesquare wrote:
Consider Adam and Eve from a non literal perspective as a statement of the human condition not a historical series of events is the answer.
You maybe do not like this reliance on the figurative, and you have a fair argument in that it is, within the history of the Church, a fairly recent variant re its thought, but given they have changed their interpretation in light of evidence surely that needs commended; lets face it, we do not castigate science for its beliefs x period ago and we applaud it for its willingness to continue to revise its views.
Can you please explain what 'evidence' the Church has used to change their interpretation?
Cheers,
Itsallaguess
Darwin and evolution, archaeology, science have all over time brought to bear a need (followed by acceptance) to step away from the literal within the Bible to the figurative. Eventual acceptance of the Earth's place within our solar system being but one manifestation of the changing views of the RC Church.
Having said that I suspect within the RC Church itself the literal to figurative movement was on the table well before its acceptance in full view of the laity, there have always been thinkers within the RC Church, as would be expected re its role in advancing learning over the years, its problem has been permitting those thinkers to air their thoughts.
I am certainly the wrong person to defend the RC Church, I have no affinity with it or really with any Church, but just as no political or social structure is infallible re its behaviour, especially over long periods of history, so it appears wrong to require the RC Church to live to a standard that no other body has ever achieved over a 2000 year period.
The RC Church is a construct of man, an interpretation by man of some events which, whether true or not, its leaders believe in and are believed by the adherents of that faith to a greater or lesser degree. It has shown vast fault within its history but so have most man made constructs, e.g., Fascism, Communism have managed to wreak a fair bit of damage in their short lived to date manifestations on Earth and I am pretty sure will manage to wreak more damage before the Earth is no more.
The Christian Church is embedded in Europe's history, our literature, entertainment often arises from its very existence; these days one studies English Literature with an eye on The Bible and an eye on Marx, accordingly whilst it may be illogical to some (myself included) re its teachings it is a very important part of what we are, where we are from and maybe sometimes adds a little re what we ought to be.