Yes bumble - I know some people accept mythical stories as history - I've been in enough threads on MN about people freaking out that their MIL told the DC that Father Christmas was not real to know that this exists both inside and outside religion.
What I am challenging is the logic of the assertion that if someone has a religious faith then they must believe mythical stories. I have a religious faith and I accept mythical stories as - well mythical stories. Some of them still useful, meaningful, powerful - as all stories can be.
Interestingly the assertion that I must believe mythical stories are history or attempts at science is always made by people who are arguing against religious belief.
Some people with a religious faith have an uncritical view of their traditions texts and stories. The only scientists (university level) I personally have come across who take this view are Engineers (I have a theory about that one, it's interesting - they tend to be the climate change deniers too)
Some people with a religious faith have a modern (nay even post modern) view of their traditions' text and stories. I am in this camp, as are the leading scientists I cited earlier like Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Paul Davies. We accept the literary critical approach to scriptures that was started in the 19th century and is, today, part of the mature and thriving academic discipline of theology and religious studies. We take seriously the work done by philosophers of religion, psychologists of religion and sociologists of religion. We find this work intellectually interesting because an academic and intellectual investigation of religious beliefs and practices is no threat to our own faith. My faith is rooted in my own experience, not in someone else's as told through those stories. Sometimes the language of those stories resonate with my own experience and I want to use it / borrow it - which is why traditions do continue. But they also grow and change.
Anyway - up early because I'm away for a long weekend and need to pack. not sure I'll have Internet access either so I'm sure this thread will be long gone by Tuesday.
Yes OP YABVU to think less of your colleague because you are being prejudiced - you are literally pre-judging her based on YOUR understanding of religion, not hers. You don't know hers.