Not literally. The objects in the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud aren't orbiting behind some kind of physical barrier. If someone wants to think of "opening the windows of heaven" as a metaphor for the gravitational perturbations that might send a comet towards us, that's fine. But that's not literally what's going on.
the Church’s concept of the firmament and the waters it held back. It was composed of great sweeping domes, supported by towering pillars. I remember thinking then that their idea didn’t quite get to the heart of the issue, but that it was probably the best they could do at the time, considering the extent of their knowledge.
That's pretty much what the Bible describes, IMO. Which is fine--I don't consider that a "lie." I'm just always amused by how some demand the six-day-creation, dust-of-the-earth part be taken as literally true (or you're not a "real Christian"), and yet tie themselves in knots explaining how the "windows of heaven" don't really mean windows.
The word is also translated *floodgates*.
However, your posts have been an excellent example of my point in my last post.
I think you put too strict a confinement on the meaning of physical and barrier:
The gravitational forces that hold the comets in the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud, and the gravitational perturbations that allow one to occasionally escape, are allegorical or metaphorical in nature, and in no way can be considered a literal physical barrier?
Likewise the gravitational forces holding the earth in orbit around the Sun are purely allegorical in nature, and in no way can be considered a literal physical barrier?
Sound (as in the sound barrier) is purely allegorical in nature, and in no way can be considered a literal physical barrier?
Time (as in the 4 minute mile) is purely allegorical in nature, and in no way can be considered a literal physical barrier?
Light (as in the speed of light) is purely allegorical in nature, and in no way can be considered a literal physical barrier?
"That's pretty much what the Bible describes, IMO."
I know of no place in The Bible where it describes the parting of the waters by the firmament in terms of soaring domes and towering pillars. Enlighten me.