DB> To some considerable extent, people make the decision about what they
 DB> will believe well before they are mature enough with enough significant
 DB> data to reach a well reasoned position, and are then stuck with it.  The
 DB> shrinks have shown that when a belief is put to a test with
 DB> contradictory data, that most people react with a good deal of anxiety
 DB> and even aggression... hence flamethrowers.
   That is the saddest aspect of the reality of the closed-minded literalist
in the realm of ANY "sacred" scripture or "word."  You may have noticed the
similarity in basics of Paul's "Hymn to Love" (13th Chap. of I Cor.) and
Plato's Symposium as a hymn to love.  Although Paul is emphasizing agape love
and Plato was speaking of erotic love the central identity as far as noesis 
s
concerned is rather plain.  But because Paul's hymn to love is something of 
n
embarrassment to the literal fundamentalist the latter will go to great pains
to assure you that Paul was not talking about love there at all in the sense
of our good old "American" use of the word, "love."  This is a way of pulling
the sting and providing a clear path for literalism and legalism to hold 
way.
I found a long time ago that one can really only enter into an intelligent
discussion of biblical books with those who know SOMETHING of contextuality.
The literalist either does not want HIMSELF to encounter the difficulties
involved in translating and interpreting the meaning of ancient literature or
does not want ANYBODY else to encounter such difficulties.  Because people
generally cannot mature without seeing these difficulties rather clearly the
psychological problems you mention comes to the fore and the reaction, as you
say "flamethrowers" in an effort to hide reality.
Sincerely, 
                                     Frank
                                                                              
                                                       
--- PPoint 2.05
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