[Oe List ...] Event and Story Quote re literalism

[Rod Rippel]

What's at stake for Christianity in the historical veracity of the story would seem to be wrapped up in the Incarnation.  If Incarnation is "the coming into being of a community" as an "embodiment" of spirit, then Gnosticism can also claim to be an authentic response to a version of the story without recourse to historicity.  Is this not similar to the self concsious Church "naming the Name" as opposed to a community having the same experince but not rooting their story in a historical happening?  In either case the question of historical is difficult to establish.  Literalism removes the Mystery and replaces it with a 'historical account' which rapidly becomes scripture (read bibliolatry).  
    I guess my point (if I have one!) is that literature is full of fictional accounts and "events" that have precipitated spirit responses from individuals and led to communities coming into existence.  That retelling the story recreates (in listeners) the events of the original story is a dynamic built into reality and deepens the mystery and richness of 'spirit movements' of all kinds and in all times.  Can any old fiction do this?  I don't think so. My contention is that literalism robs people of this depth and struggle and substututes a trite explanation.
    

Rod
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