Madam, - Might you allow me to voice the great pleasure I had in reading the article by Sean Goan and Kieran O'Mahony (Opinion & Analysis, January 6th) about reading the gospel stories with a critical and rationalistic approach?
I felt they did much to go below the surface of the Biblical texts, plumb the depths of spiritual - and intellectual - meaning these contain, and bring this rich, manifold and beautiful meaning to the fore.
I feel bound, however, to make one observation. An emphasis on "symbol" and "figurativeness" that aims to satisfy doubters of the factual value and validity of the Bible is dangerous. Why might Jesus not have fed the 5,000? Healed lepers? Walked on water? If we say he didn't do miracles, then surely we limit his divine omnipotence. This is at best disrespectful, and at worst impertinent.
Much more importantly, if Jesus did not - historically and literally - rise from the dead, then what good to us are the Bible's promises that we too shall so rise? - Yours, etc,
MARK HUTCHESON,
Glenview,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.