Red herring is a relative not absolute term; X is a red herring to discussion / talking point Y. For this discussion, based on the post of Don's that I was responding to, it's a red herring. Those "some" -- unless you're including yourself -- aren't here.

But even so, the "some groups have 'their' text" is a independent question from whether or not those groups think 'their' text is 'literal fact'. You can have your text an think it's literal fact. You can have your text and think it's not literal fact. You can not have your text. Therefore thinking your text is 'literal truth' is a red herring in the discussion about having or not having your text -- which is what this line of conversation was about.

I'd say the Book of Mormon is definitely gnostic. But you're right, I was careless. I meant of books extant at the time the NT canon was open. Such as the books that Don was talking about. I thought it was clear from the conversation so far that that was what we were talking about.

O..O
=o=