OK, Amos, but take that Jonah feller. Have you read the book of Jonah? It's a wonderful, colorful story with a nice touch of humor at the end. Not only that, it teaches a profound lesson that you can't expect God to go around destroying your enemies forever and ever.

It's quite clear that the Book of Jonah is an allegory, not a news report. Same with Adam and Eve - a wonderful story with a good moral. Did the author of the story intend people to believe it literally?

The Bible is an amazing collection of folklore and folktales and poetry that provided the ethical and spiritual underpinnings of our culture. But no, the Scriptures weren't intended to be news reports. "Literal" interpretation of Scripture is the product of narrow, unimaginative minds - it's not the fault of the Scripture writers that they were misinterpreted.

And it's hard for me to understand how "folkies" can understand and accept and appreciate the Folk Process in folk music, but not in Scripture.

-Joe-