can we at least agree that SOME stories in the Bible are just nice metaphorical fairy-tales ?

Question

i love compromizing.

i will give you that the world is AT LEAST 6000 years old.
i will give you that the 10 commandments are nice rules to live by
i will give you that when i was a child, i truly loved the cute stories about talking snakes, and Noah's Ark.

but hey, we are all adults now, can we at least agree/compromize on the fact that the story of Noah's Ark and also that talking-snake-thingy is a bit over the top?

Answer 1

Actually, I'm inclined to wonder why the Bible exists at all - by that I mean the volume that contains both the Old and the New Testaments - I've seen a lot of answers here that say that 'Jesus did away with the old laws'. Okay, then why are they still there? Throughout the New Testament they refer to writings from the Old Testament - clearly seen as different books - sometimes inaccurately.

To me, when you look at it from the outside, you can clearly see the difference that 1000-some-odd years makes. When the Tanakh/Old Testament was written, most of the writings at the time were 'metaphorical' (i.e. myths, legends, fairy tales, fables etc.). I would imagine that children at the time might have taken Aesop's fables to be true but adults took them to be made-up stories that are still nonetheless useful as a parable. Nobody took Aesop literally, but they still appreciated the stories. On the other hand, people may have taken mythological stories about gods like Zeus literally, but that probably reflects the sophistication of the culture at the time.

Thousands of years later we read Greek mythology in school. We read it just as fantastic stories that still happen to have a meaningful lesson for us... The Old Testament should probably be approached in the same way...

Answer 2

Please if you don't believe in Noah's Ark, just climb to the top of Ararat and you'll find a ship. If you think is too much work read Fernando Navarra and you will know something different.
The problem with Noah's Ark is very simple how can you explain that the Ark contains aluminum and magnesium, for these individuals that were coming down from trees, in agreement with the evolution theories.
One more thing of the big flood, or deglaciation as you like to call it.
Check the Sphinx specially the legs and explain yourself why it has water erosion on the paws.
The Sphinx is a Lion and was built around 10050BC, now your world may be a Little bit older.
Chau.

Answer 3

Agree. The history of the Noah's Ark is partially true. The area between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates can be flooded, but the true is that the term "Word" in the era of Noah was very different from the word we know today. A complete planet flooding is technical impossible. We know from archeology that evolution was present in this planet from millions of years and no important even occur in the real word at the time Noah was walking around.

Answer 4

Yes I'm on your side, of course there is that stuff of blind faith and the mustard seed to move a mountain. But I think much of the things on the Bible can be just Metaphores. Some kind of educational stories...though about the Noah's stuff, almost every mythology in the world speaks of an universal diluve...if you explain with science it could have been a Tsunami o something like that?... anyway all religions are about faith aren't they? so I think that you're right, many stories of the Bible are nice methaphorical tales but I respect those who won't agree.

Answer 5

not with noah's ark because its mentioned in Quran. but yes there are some mythical things mentioned in bible. like unicorn and beasts

Isaiah 34:7 talks about unicorn.

Unicorn is an imaginary creature represented as a white horse with a long horn growing from its forehead. This is only available in myths.


Revelation 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

Answer 6

I would say that most are political tales, that had to be written in code, because they would all get crucified by the Romans if they knew the trash they were talking in that Bible... that's why you can't take it literally, it has ancient metaphorical euphamisms that we cannot really interprete in this age... I certainly would not dismiss the importance of this work either, but no, I wouldn't say it was some magical literary work written by an invisible hand...

Answer 7

Oh yeah I am with you. And I agree you are being extremelly fair in saying that just SOME is fantasy. (People turning into salt? Or Cain killed Abel, does that mean end of civilization? Where Mrs Cain came from?)

Also let's face that when one quote the Bible, it is Ok to reply by quoting Dr Seuss.

Oh by the way, you got Mainworry to answer you question. Get prepared for Religious Stalking

Answer 8

why is it so hard to believe that the events depicted in the bible are all part of the writer's viewpoint..some descriptions are meant to illustrate a point..some are play by play..it can be deciphered if one has an open mind coming in..
is it really preferable to have all of this existence be happenstance without a higher power?? that all there is to this is to be born and then die and nothing else?? it doesn't make sense to me for life to be so simplistic..i would rather choose to believe in the principals of the bible than to just exist and die..for me, GOD is real..if you don't agree o.k.
it's not all JUST about the bible..but it's funny how in all of history...none of the biblical content has been DISPROVEN...with all of modern science and computer age mind power..those antiquated fairy tales as you say, still stand the test of time all these thousands of years..funny nothing has come along to replace it..just a thought.......

Answer 9

It is all true, there is no compromizing when it comes to the Bible.
But I give you these

I will give you that some stories are hard to believe in our day and age
I will give you that it is hard to follow the Bible because it tells us to do things that make us uncomfortable, and have to put out "too" much effort.

Answer 10

Aaahhh no. :) There is huge amounts of evidence of Noah's Ark. The "talking snake thingy" would be impossible to prove or even duplicate, but I still believe it, if only for one reason: Satan himself was present. So I figure, "hey, he's a pretty powerful dude, so he can do that" :)