[troutman]

Originally Posted by peter12

The real problem that both sides have in discussing the Bible is the fact that it does require quite a lot of education to understand such a complicated book. Even if you don't believe it is divine, it at the least is cultural tapestry of one of the West's founding civilizations. The myths, stories, and history it contains speak so much about what human beings long for, wish for, and how they see the world. I believe Northrope Frye once called the Bible, "The Codebook of Western Civilization". So it's important.

All myths from all cultures do this, and should all be studied.

Read myths. They teach you that you can turn inward, and you begin to get the message of the symbols. Read other people's myths, not those of your own religion, because you tend to interpret your own religion in terms of facts -- but if you read the other ones, you begin to get the message. Myth helps you to put your mind in touch with this experience of being alive. Myth tells you what the experience is.
-- Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth