Q&A 7, First Answer

My question is: Should we consider religious texts literature?

It depends upon the specific texts in question.  Some religious texts are essentially lists of what one should or should not do, and I would not consider these literature.  Others, like the Dhammapada or the Quran, are undeniably poetic in style, and in fact often acknowledged by their own followers to be forms of art - many Muslims consider the Quran to showcase the most beautiful use of the Arabic language at any time, and in fact strive to emulate its style in other literary works.  Cases like the Bible are trickier; while some parts of the Bible are somewhat poetic, and (debatably) many of the stories therein are metaphorical, Christians often find the idea of referring to the Bible as literature insulting.  This may be because many people in contemporary times have come to think of the term 'literature' as referring only to fictional works.