I have a simple interpretation of difficult Bible verses. I think people at any given time do their best to understand existence and understand God. the understanding changes with time because cultures evolve, and people are able to see things were formerly hidden to them. This does not imply that our current understanding is perfect.
I think it requires an enormous ability to compartmentalize to think that the words of the Old testament represent the absolute and unchanging word of God. We can see the worldview of the Old Testament patriarchs alive and flourishing in the Middle East today.
Now there is a view I can understand and identify with. I can understand a religion whose followers feel that way. I think from his answers that Ahban doesn't agree with js1138 and takes a much sterner literal view, at least in theory though he seemed hazy on how it would work in practice. AndrewC didn't give an answer, so I have no idea if that is how he feels or not. For all I know he agrees with js1138, in which case I would have little argument with him (on this issue at least ;) ). One problem with asking the question in the religion forum is that I'm pretty that from 10 different Christians I'll get 10 different answers. That has been my experience when I've got into debates about Christianity and morality on the crevo threads.