>"This is a contradiction. If Gen. 1 is clearly poetic form, it is "clearly
marked" as such. That is the point, and it appears you agree.
Let's move from that point onward. How does a poem convey truth? Is it ONLY
through information? Of course not. Just as the parables are not so limited.
You say, <<Homer conveyed some true information in a poem>>
True, but he he was not LIMITED to that, was he? His description of Achilles'
shield was not factual, but it conveyed a message about heroism. And everyone
classifies The Iliad as epic, not journalism. Why hold it to a journalistic
standard?<
Wait a minute, you are missing something. A poem is a literary form and is
independent of the truth or falsity of the message.
AN ODE TO A GLASS: OPUS !
Copyright 1995 G.R. Morton
A Glass is so smooth and clear
If you want it will hold your beer
But please hold it steady
or you must be ready
to pick up the pieces from there.
AN ODE TO A GLASS: OPUS 2
Copyright 1995 G. R. Morton
A Glass will look fine in your ear
On your nose you will have no fear
In fibers so finely spun
make a dress just for fun
which worn will cover your rear.
Don't worry I won't quit my day job. But consider the two poems. The first
conveys total truth. A glass is clear, holds beer etc. The second conveys
only partial truth. A glass will not look fine in my ear. Nor will my fear
disappear if I put one on my nose. But using the reasoning you used above,
the second poem can be said to convey a message about the fashionable uses of
a glass. This is how a poem conveys truth. It is in the events described.
The difference between the Bible and Homer is that the Bible claims to
be the work of God; Homer claims no such authority. It is that claim which
makes the truth of the Bible more important than the truth of Homer.
Jim Bell wrote:
>But I'm very interested in the authority point which I posed to you: If you
don't see Genesis as factual, and don't see it as metaphorical, how DO you
see it?<
(Sigh.) Can you point to one of my posts where I have said I don't see
Genesis as factual? I have been very careful to explicitly state my
preference and belief in a factual Genesis 1-11. My interpretation of how
all the events fit together is most certainly different from yours, but I
fail to see how you come to the conclusion you do. (Unless I made a
horrible, horrible typo) Here you are making an assumption which is
erroneous.
glenn