[Sherman Logan]

I quite agree.

However I personally try to adapt my opinions to what I perceive the Bible as teaching, rather than the other way around.

No doubt I fail to fully implement this, and deceive myself that I’m doing so when I’m not.

OTOH, I’ve never sat down and cut out parts of the Bible that I dislike.

Possibly Tom was just more honest with himself than I am. But I don’t think so.

Tom was a very interesting guy, and had many more unpleasant aspects to his character than is the common perception among Americans.

[zeugma]

Tom was a very interesting guy, and had many more unpleasant aspects to his character than is the common perception among Americans.

True, but I'll forgive him much given his penning of the Declaration of Independence, a document that will far outlast the united States of America.

[Matchett-PI]

"I quite agree. ....I personally try to adapt my opinions to what I perceive the Bible as teaching, rather than the other way around. No doubt I fail to fully implement this, and deceive myself that I’m doing so when I’m not."

The secret is to realize that we have all been "indoctrinated" and hold religious beliefs that may or may not be "Truth" at all. Been there, done that. :)

"....."truth" and "liberty" in the abstract are much closer to God than any specific formulation. For one thing, truth is only possible if it is freely discovered, so it must be prior to doctrine. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Co 3:17). (I might add that freedom is only possible if it converges upon truth, otherwise it is just meaningless horizontal drifting, AKA the Left.)