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NL888 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Does "only if" mean "except"?
Context:
Not all Christian interpretations have been so supportive of this scientific view of the universe, however. Those who inter-
pret Genesis in absolutely literal terms conclude that the earth is only six thousand years old, and therefore reject most of the conclusions just cited. Their position is in some ways under-standable as an appeal to truth: believers in a religion that is undergirded by sacred texts rightly object to loose interpreta-tions of their meaning. Texts that seem to describe historical events should be interpreted as allegory only if strong evidence requires it.
Not all Christian interpretations have been so supportive of this scientific view of the universe, however. Those who inter-
pret Genesis in absolutely literal terms conclude that the earth is only six thousand years old, and therefore reject most of the conclusions just cited. Their position is in some ways under-standable as an appeal to truth: believers in a religion that is undergirded by sacred texts rightly object to loose interpreta-tions of their meaning. Texts that seem to describe historical events should be interpreted as allegory only if strong evidence requires it.
Top answer
'Only if' means that it is only true if the given conditions are met. In this context it is saying the Bible can only be considered allegorical if there is strong evidence to show that it is not literal truth.
- 'Only if' means that it is only true if the given conditions are met.
- In this context it is saying the Bible can only be considered allegorical if there is strong evidence to show that it is not literal truth.
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3 Answers
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'Only if' means that it is only true if the given conditions are met. In this context it is saying the Bible can only be considered allegorical if there is strong evidence to show that it is not literal truth.
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Thank you.
Yes, "'Only if' means that it is only true if the given conditions are met."
But "strong evidence requires it" is confusing. Why not used "strong evidence proves it"?
The meaning "strong evidence requires it" seems to overturn your explanation.
Yes, "'Only if' means that it is only true if the given conditions are met."
But "strong evidence requires it" is confusing. Why not used "strong evidence proves it"?
The meaning "strong evidence requires it" seems to overturn your explanation.
00
I could rewrite the sentence to be:
Texts that seem to describe historical events should be interpreted as allegory only under the condition that other evidence proves that it is not historical. ('other evidence' being something other than the text itself)
But in this context we are saying that if we have strong evidence against the text being historical we are required to interpret t
Texts that seem to describe historical events should be interpreted as allegory only under the condition that other evidence proves that it is not historical. ('other evidence' being something other than the text itself)
But in this context we are saying that if we have strong evidence against the text being historical we are required to interpret t
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