>>>>"that does not preclude" usually means "so long as". <s>
>>
>>Absolutely.
>>
>>>>I completely disagree with Rick, but I'll give him credit for greater consistencn y than the mainstream churches you're describing The latter wants to have it both ways.
>>
>>Both ways what? If a mainstream church says that evolution needs to be taught in schools and that science is not a barrier to the presence of a creator or the reality of immortal souls, why would you object more to that? Especially why would you give greater credit to the idea that the world is 6000 years old? Most Christians would discount that idea.
>
>Either the bible is a lot of occasionally pleasant but generally fictional fantasy or it isn't.
>It's really a binary choice.
>All the blah, blah, blah's about myths, traditions, etc are artifacts manufactured to help people avoid the stark, confrontational encounter with that basic OR gate.
>By skirting that gate and not taking a firm position on that question what we call "mainstream churches" - I'd add synagogues and mosques - perpetuate a fundamental hypocrisy.
>That hypocrisy, I think, is what Kevin has illuminated.

Amazingly, I just clicked SEND about 10 seconds ago and said something very close.