More Midrashic Literalism - The Comment Thread Is Active Again

On one of my original articles on midrashic literalism, Avi Goldstein has posted another response, and I have responded in turn. I make some points that will eventually find their way into other parshablog posts - e.g. the position of Rambam's contemporaries; the position of that great 6-year old, Maharatz Chayos; and elaboration on the idea that Chazal were motivated by a different Zeitgeist, and had different social and intellectual inputs, that we have.

To coin a melitza - when reading Chazal, we must consider them just as we consider the sturdiness of a Succah. We must judge them on the basis of the ruach (spirit) hametzuya beOto makom uveOto zeman.

Anonymous: Sorry, I have not gotten around to responding to you just yet, especially since I have now responded to others before getting to you. Hope to do so soon.