What is the religious definition of eternity?

[Saint Frankenstein]

I didn't intend for my statement to mean they say every verse needs to be read literally. I was saying that, for instance, if someone was to understand the Garden of Eden story as allegory, the church might say, "That's fine. You can read it that way, but you must acknowledge it is also literally true". If you express doubt to that, you're at risk of being a heretic.

Actually, there are Catholic theologians who don't see the Garden of Eden story as literal and are hardly considered heretics. Even footnotes in Catholic Bibles say that Genesis doesn't present a scientific viewpoint of creation but a religious viewpoint.

Have a look at these articles: Evolution and Original Sin: The Problem of Evil | Whosoever Desires

 

[Windwalker]

Actually, there are Catholic theologians who don't see the Garden of Eden story as literal and are hardly considered heretics. Even footnotes in Catholic Bibles say that Genesis doesn't present a scientific viewpoint of creation but a religious viewpoint.

Have a look at these articles: Evolution and Original Sin: The Problem of Evil | Whosoever Desires

I was using the Garden of Eden story as an arbitrary example, where I said for instance, if, someone were to... I realize Catholics are less inflexible in their thinking then the familiar Protestant fundamentalists. Let's say instead then that if you were to say the resurrection story was an allegory to speak of spiritual rebirth, and that it didn't actually happen literally, or that the virgin birth and whole nativity story was likewise not to be taken or read as historical facts but rather as metaphors to speak of God's love, how well would that be received?

But really, ultimately I am speaking of the historical church, and less so about modern theology. I was speaking of mystical realization in history running up against "approved" theologies. Historically, the mystic would find himself up against the stake being burned if his views strayed too far from the party line.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I was using the Garden of Eden story as an arbitrary example, where I said for instance, if, someone were to... I realize Catholics are less inflexible in their thinking then the familiar Protestant fundamentalists. Let's say instead then that if you were to say the resurrection story was an allegory to speak of spiritual rebirth, and that it didn't actually happen literally, or that the virgin birth and whole nativity story was likewise not to be taken or read as historical facts but rather as metaphors to speak of God's love, how well would that be received?

But really, ultimately I am speaking of the historical church, and less so about modern theology. I was speaking of mystical realization in history running up against "approved" theologies. Historically, the mystic would find himself up against the stake being burned if his views strayed too far from the party line.

Ah, I understand what you're saying. Yeah, it's Catholic doctrine to believe in a literal virgin birth, bodily resurrection, etc. as well allowing allegorical interpretations of such.

Even Teilhard got in trouble with the Church hierarchy but now even Popes praise his ideas.