Letters to the Editor
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You're right
And I apologize, I was more defensive than perhaps was warranted, although "Man, what version of the bible and koran have you been reading??? "Exploring ways to live together" my ass." wasn't exactly a kiss on the cheek. E-conversations are always difficult and reactionary.
As for that quote- not my best expression of an idea- I think you summed it up pretty good. More than anything, the Bible is a story of a people, and whether you beleive it was written by men or by god, it is not easy to ignore a text that has lasted more than a thousand years and outlasted more than a few political world-orders. That is not nothing. The way most (non-literalist) Christians view the Bible as a long story about the people through whom the One True God revealed himself to the world. I was trying to say that despite the God aspect of the Bible, it is a lasting account of real men, full of the real experiences and more than a few very good life lessons. Of course it is difficult to ignore the God aspect of it if you set out reading it with a hostile mindset towards the concept of God itself. As an anthropological study it is first rate material, both in its character studies and its literary depth. This side of the Bible is what most Christians choose to focus on and model their lives after. The rest is what Right Wing, NeoCon, Republican, pre-millenialist, Christo-facists focus on.