Actually that why as storyologist or maybe it should lorelogist I stick to fiction. I like to dwell on whetever a story guides me to a greater truth or not. For me stories especially religious ones are not to be swallow whole but, instead are meant to be pull apart shifted and remolded till they understood. As I once heard in an UU service myths stories are great lies that point to a great truth. As an example for one summer service I recasted Eve as a heroine for getting us out of the Garden of Eden where nothing is happening. Funny you mentioned sand for having been raised UU I developed a theology I call sand castle theology. It is basically the idea that I struggled and try to build an edfic of theology. I managed to make some beautiful sand castles that I think should stand forever. Then I get distracted and sure enough the castle gets destroyed by a the wave of atheicism/doubt. So, I shrug my shoulders and build another castle using what is still useful from the old castle and adding newer ideas like maybe a moat this time. So in answer to what to depend on. For me I depend on the flexabilty and symbols found in story rather than facts.

I completely agree, Rose. It's critical in the study of history (and this includes biblical history), that we investigate deeply into the story. For me, it's important to ask the implications of any story. To understand that, I begin with who the speaker is, who the audience is, and what the purpose of telling the story might be. I then ask about the presuppositions made by both speaker and hearer. History is deceivingly subjective!