I think I'd agree, Ed. It's a question that seems intended to provoke people.

Which one is the best one? The ones that are based on the Golden Rule (do unto others...) - in their roots, most major religions seek this ideal. And yes, most major religions have had members and leaders who have perverted and distorted this ideal from time to time. As institutions and communities age, they get stale - and they need constant renewal and reform.

You may call them fairy stories, Dave. I call them sacred myths that embody the ideals that religious people seek. Literalists cannot understand or respect myth. This is what strident atheists and religious fundamentalists have in common - they have no sense of poetry and cannot see beyond the literal interpretation of things, and they cannot respect ideas other than their own.

It seems to me that there is a deep connection between folklore and sacred myth. Shallow people may scoff at them - but once you take the time to ponder them with an open mind, you find there might just be something to it. While they may not want to ascribe to a religious creed themselves, tolerant and open-minded people refrain from dismissing religious beliefs, and acknowledge that religious creeds have inspired much wisdom, art, literature, music, and culture.

So, are you a fundamentalist/literalist, Dave?

-Joe Offer-