Perhaps the most important thing about learning religion young is that we tend to internalise the phrases and the doctrine, gradually introducing sense into our understanding, as well as meaning. And then one comes across the same thing done from an entirely different perspective, an entirely different childhood, and the complete, naked absurdity of what is affirmed stands out like a live owl in your breakfast yoghourt.<\/p>\n\n
Not the least absurdity of fundamentalism is the thought that monotheistic texts could have literal meanings if you thought about them carefully. But it takes a really subtle scholar to forget that they ever had literal meanings.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Perhaps the most important thing about learning religion young is that we tend to internalise the phrases and the doctrine, gradually introducing sense into our understanding, as well as meaning. And then one comes across the same thing done from … Continue reading