اقتباس:It's very hard sometimes to discuss the Bible when people pick and choose. Take this issue for example: Christians say homosexuality is wrong, and they point at some verses in the Old Testament for example. When we show them that there are also verses in the Old Testament telling us that touching pig skin is also immoral, they somehow come up with a way to ignore such verses. They want to have it their way!

You are making an excellent point here. In my belief, homosexuality should be rejected on the basis that is a form of narcissism. To be closed up on oneself is a sin, period. It is not really the sex act that defiles a man, but it goes to much deeper levels....Oh well, I like what you had to share.

On the issue of how to tell what is symbolism and what is pure history I guess that it is the business of textual criticism.
I am reading some excellent material now by Bart Ehrman and I am sure if you read him you might give up Song for real scholarship. ;)

Have a great evening.

(f)