“Not to be Taken Literally” is pretty much the slogan of Christianity. Whenever goyim hear a rule in the Tanach that they don’t want to follow (all of them) they just say “ehh it’s not meant to be taken literally.” So as to suggest that when the Tanach unambiguously forbids something, it’s all part of some greater, spiritual metaphor the meaning of which they’ll think of another time.
By the way, I realize I’m derailing this. Sorry.