Who takes the bible literally?

Answer 1

I think the Bible is like the Constitution. It was written a long time ago by a select few people and you have to adapt it to modern day society. I think this a big reason why there are SO many different religions. It's hard to get everybody to agree on one person's opinion, so people involve themselves with the interpretation that they like best.

Answer 2

Idiots. Anyone who takes the bible literally is stupid because all the words in the bible are an interpretation. Many people like to use the bible literally to support their own biased personal beliefs. They take sections out of the bible and not the entire thing. If alot of people would actually take the time to interpret and understand the bible instead of taking everything for its literal meaning this world would be a much happier place.

Answer 3

The Bible cannot be taken literally in the common use of the word "literally," meaning that there is only one correct way of understanding the words written there.

Biblical Hebrew is a language in which the lack of vowels and grammatical ambiguity combine so that there are in fact multiple meanings possible for the same set of characters, each of which is an equally "correct" translation.

For example, in Genesis 25:23 the phrase "v’rav va-avod tza-ir" appears: God is telling Rebekah that she has twins in her womb, and that one will serve the other. However, the phrase can be translated as "the younger will serve the elder" or "the elder will serve the younger."

A contradiction? Yes, if you want to read the Bible in a "literal" sense. Not if you're willing to read it more deeply. Follow the link for a further explanation!

Answer 4

The bible is meant to be taken literally where it is meant to be taken literally. The golden rule of interpretation: if the most obvious sense makes sense, seek no other sense.

Now, here is something that is not literal. Jesus said, if your hand offends you, cut it off. If your eye offends, pluck it out. Does he mean literally we should cut off our hands and eyes? There would be alot of blind crippled people walking around. No. This means, if there is sin in our life, do whatever it takes to get rid of it.

When you are born again, you receive the spirit of God. The bible tells us that the things of God are only discerned by those who have the spirit of God. This means, we can read the bible and discern whether something is literal, metaphor, symbolism, etc.

Thank you for a good question.

Answer 5

I am a Christian, but i don't take the Bible literally in certain cases like when it says that if your right eye causes your left eye to sin, gauge it out. that is not meant to be taken literally. it is a metaphor, along with many other things in the Bible. But there are things meant to be taken literally, such as the 10 Commandments. It all depends on what you are looking at in the Bible.

Answer 6

Nope...

These 10,000 Clergy members don't either:
http://www.uwosh.edu/colleges/cols/religion_science_collaboration.htm

Here is half of the letter they signed up to, follow the link for the rest:

"Within the community of Christian believers there are areas of dispute and disagreement, including the proper way to interpret Holy Scripture. While virtually all Christians take the Bible seriously and hold it to be authoritative in matters of faith and practice, the overwhelming majority do not read the Bible literally, as they would a science textbook. Many of the beloved stories found in the Bible – the Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah and the ark – convey timeless truths about God, human beings, and the proper relationship between Creator and creation expressed in the only form capable of transmitting these truths from generation to generation. Religious truth is of a different order from scientific truth. Its purpose is not to convey scientific information but to transform hearts."

Answer 7

I don't because I don't believe that snakes can talk and other stuff mentioned in the bible. My priest also told me not to take it seriously, that the snake is just a metaphor for either the bad conscience of Eve. Basically it's a book, both historical in it's own way and spiritual to teach people lessons in life just to follow. Easy and simple as that!! Funny how there is so many wars out there in the world today because most of our religions ask for the same things and use the same metaphors!!

Answer 8

See this is the problem, everyone does and does NOT suppose to!!! The bible is not ment to be taken litteraly!! These stories in the Bible are repeated over and over thousands of years ago before Jesus came on the scene. Don't beleive me narrow minded Christians who read my answer, look at Osirus and Seth in the Egyptian Mythology, it runs parallel to the Jesus story, because these storys are mythology!!!!!!!

Answer 9

There are passages in the bible must be taken literally and spiritually. It depends on the verse.

Answer 10

I accept the truth of the Bible by Faith. We must believe that it is the Holy Inspired Word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16, 17: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Answer 11

Those who have a new life in Christ. ‘Deep calleth unto deep’; so if all you are hearing from the Bible is a humming sound, a busy signal, trash talk, your pastor’s words, your own voice or nothing at all; you may want to examine your relationship with He, who from eternity, is called The WORD.