[Arkinsaw]

It's good, but you can become obsessed with literalism.

The Bible is the greatest artistic work of all time. It contains definite literal statements, rules, requirements, and explanations. But it also contains word pictures, stories, allegories, poems, songs, genealogies, proverbs and sayings. God is not prohibited from using any literary devices. He can even use parables to make large complicated spiritual and theological concepts into something that a six year old, or an ignorant peasant, can fully understand. Quite amazing actually.

In general, literalism is correct, but there is no greater artist than God and "not literal" does not equal "not true". Jesus' parables were not to be taken as literal, but yet are true.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

In general, literalism is correct, but there is no greater artist than God and "not literal" does not equal "not true". Jesus' parables were not to be taken as literal, but yet are true.

Yeah, but the trick is, God more or less clues us in when something is not meant literally. A lot of people just like to take whatever conflicts with their theology as "not literal" so that they can rework it into whatever they want it to say.