Quotes About Interpretation

Religion is a mixed blessing.

Religion is only literature, but luckily literature is not only religion.

A one sentence definition of mythology? Mythology is what we call someone else's religion.

People will use their religion to justify virtually anything.

Religion is not so bad, unless you believe it.

I think it [religion] is an art, the greatest one; an extension of the communion all the other arts attempt.

This is about safety. This has nothing to do with religion.

it is as unseeing to ask what is the use of poetry as it would be to ask what is the use of religion.

Judaism is in a sense a Rabbinic, Talmudic religion, rather than a Biblical religion.

It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me it's the parts that I do understand.

Every scripture, no matter how ancient, must go through rigorous human scrutiny.

It often is better to ask an ancient Hebrew goatherd, instead of a so-called expert like myself, about the meaning of a particular, biblical story.

Reading the bible is like dumpster diving. You sift through the garbage hoping to find anything of value.

If i believe my truth is true and you believe your truth is true, what if my truth says yours is a lie.is it still true?

I blamed the Bible, when its words were not at fault, only the way they're interpretedby those too willingto wield them like chain saws, cutting others off at the knees.

The problem with the prosperity gospel is that it makes prosperity the Gospel. God's word is flawless, however if your interpretation of the word is wrong, your application will be wrong also.

It is easy for those who conflate religion with government to interpret any criticism of government or policy as an 'attack' on their 'faith'.

It is when we stop believing that religions have been handed down from above or else that they are entirely daft that matters become more interesting.

No one speaks for God - not even the prophets (who speak about God)

Their reliance on biblical quotations does not augur well for their for their openness to moral reasoning....

The only reason that the devil can read scripture, is that it was written with him in mind.

Marking a book is literally an experience of your differences or agreements with the author. It is the highest respect you can pay him.

There are people who believe in an absolutely transparent prose; with every respect for clarity of expression, I don't.

No doubt, intuitions deserve respect. ...[but] I think that it is always up for grabs what an intuition is an intuition of. At a minimum, it is surely sometimes up for grabs.