Counterproposal

"Why should we stubbornly adhere to a literal interpretation...when so much of the Bible makes use of symbolism and metaphor? We would do well to abandon such a narrow and old-fashioned attitude of faith."
—Unification Church Divine Principle Chapter 2 Section 1.1

"And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?"
— Matthew 13:10

A religion does not need to be interpreted literally in order to be valuable and taken seriously. The literalist approach to religion faces many problems with credibility and contradictions in the light of modern scholarship.

My counterproposal is that the scriptures, as well as Unification Thought itself, do not need to be interpreted literally -- in fact most of their spiritual value is lost when they are read literally.

As an illustrative example outside of scriptures, if I were to turn in a book report on Moby-Dick, in my high school English class, saying that it was only about a ship, a whale, and an old sea captain, I would probably receive a failing grade for missing the point and the symbolism of the novel. Also, I would have missed the inner spiritual value of the story.

The "kingdom of God", in the Bible, can also be interpreted as a symbolic metaphor for the goal of your own personal, internal and eternal spiritual life -- as it is by many denominations. It is the "self-government" of compassion and understanding that comes from within you -- and must be nurtured, practiced and developed.

"Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand." — Matthew 13:13

Clever leaders using religion for political ends is as "old as history." However, the religious journey itself is primarily a personal internal journey from one point of view to another -- from suffering, dissatisfaction, sadness and anger, to understanding, contentment, joy, forgiveness and compassion for others.

Interpreting the kingdom of God literally, as an external political reality, short-circuits the personal spiritual meaning and experience. Religion isn't about bringing some noble to political power. Religion is about bringing out the power of nobility that is inside of you. Religion isn't about the "divine right of kings." Religion is about the "Divine King of Right."

"And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." — Matthew 19:17

Which is the higher moral standard? -- you do good because you are obeying some external authority's "commandments" to do so? -- or you do good because you feel and understand (as Jesus said) "within you", in your own heart and mind, that it is the right thing to do? People need to be free to make that choice, otherwise human dignity becomes meaningless. After all, why would you, as a "restored Adam" or a "restored Eve", need a literal king or a queen telling you what to do? Wouldn't that be a major contradiction of terms?

Even Jesus himself, in the New Testament, taught using many symbolic parables, allegories and metaphors. The actual spiritual lessons are in the symbolic interpretations.

Jesus said in Luke: "behold, the kingdom of God is within you" -- so , if the "kingdom" is within you, where is the "King?" -- within you! And where will the "King" return? -- within you!

You don't need to throw religion away. "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water." Just read it again with "new eyes." (metaphorically speaking of course)

"But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear."
— Matthew 13:16