Cofty, I will be selling everything I own and donating to Shirdi Sai Baba soon. Thanks for sharing!
On a serious note, I find that some scriptures are probably taken literally when they were simply passed down folklore. I recall Bethelites reciting old folklore as if it was established fact - I was soooooo embarassed for them.
Speakers did the same thing from the platform. I usually took the time to kindly tell them that some of their stories were folklore, regurgitated by the unwitting. (Ex. "KISS" was an acronym for Knights in Satan's Service). And many more!!!!!
Most of the jews never considered the Book of Jonah to be taken literal. It was considered a moral lesson (and a good one I think) and that was it's purpose.
The dating of the flood: I don't think there is evidence for a global flood, but if there is, it almost certainly did not happen in the timeframe of Bible chronology. If it did, the Egyptians (and others) built right through that epoch disaster. They were either very dedicated workers or the flood never happened or it was regional and embellished considerably.
The age of man: 6000 years ago, some civilizations were already declining and being replaced. Go visit Göbekli Tepe. It is a Neolithic archaeological site in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. Dated to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic, between c. 9500 and 8000 BCE.
It is wise to use discernment when reading anything "ancient". Truth may be sprinkled within its lore, but there are few instances of 100% accuracy. Humans know that age can cover a multitude of fact checking - just look at WTC amending old publications!
Yes - I STILL RESPECT THE BIBLE. But I will not trivialize the message by distorting the intended meaning behind certain passages.
