>>>The fact that there are parts that are explicitly given as being symbolic. This is actually addressed in the New Testament when Christ explains that he teach

>>>The fact that there are parts that are explicitly given as being symbolic. This is actually addressed in the New Testament when Christ explains that he teaches in parables because he's speaking directly to a specific level of understanding. You missed the symbolism here. What you thought he meant was actually symbolism for an entirely different meaning. There's about 4 layers of indirection here meaning that each symbolic representation is in itself a symbolic representation of something else. This happens on four distinct levels. Reinterpreting this statement the correct way can change the entire interpretation of the bible.