[newguy357]

Well, we'll just have to disagree.

Sure, we can disagree if you'd like. We can also disagree on a lot of other things: I insist the sky is blue, that water is liquid, and that rabbits are smaller than horses--and you're welcome to disagree, but it does not change the facts. Likewise, there is no contradiction between Gen. 1 and 2 and therefore no logical NEED to take them symbolically/allegorically. You can still choose to do so, of course, but a person is not required to by the laws of logic. You cannot argue against that any more than you can argue against my statements earlier. And anyway, if Gen. 1 and 2 did contradict, why would you choose to be interested in a religion with contradictory symbols?

[SuzyQue]

Likewise, your saying that there is no apparent contradiction in Genesis 1 and 2 does not make it true. You're making a circular argument; it must be literal, so there's no contradiction, so there's no reason to see it allegorically, so it must be literal. There are no facts here.