If you can't interpret the Bible literally, what good is it?

Question

You can argue symbolic subtext in anything you want. People take parts of the Bible and twist the literal meaning into something metaphorical that suits their own agenda.

Answer 1

To a Christian, the Bible always means exactly what it says--except when they don't agree with it, then it's metaphor or allegory or symbolism. Oh, and of course, you always need the Sacred Spook to tell you the meaning. Trouble is, the Spook apparently gives different interpretations to different people, because no two Christians can ever agree fully on what is literal and what is not. They cannot all be correct, so that means the Spook is misleading most or all of them.

Hey! Here's a wild thought! Maybe there is no Holy Spirit and all those Christians are just making it up as they go! They just pick-and-choose what they agree with and discard the rest according to what their personal tastes are. Nothing wrong with that, I suppose, I just wish they would admit that this is exactly what they are doing, and stop imagining that there is any imaginary ghost whispering ideas in their heads.

Answer 2

Well, you can't interpret the Bible literally unless you can read the original text. Otherwise, you are reading the way others have interpreted and twisted the meaning.

Even within the different books of the Bible there are some contradictions, so the author of that book has already put his own spin on the events he is reporting.

That's why I don't believe the Bible is the source of God's word, it has been too corrupted by humans.

Answer 3

It seems you are asking what people get out of the Bible. Here is a list of what I get out of the Bible, the top 10 as it were.
1. A knowledge that God is personally involved with His children not only now, but since the beginning of time.
2. A knowledge that my problems are not so different from any other person who has ever lived on the earth.
3. A knowledge of and gratitude for the Jewish people who were so carefully prepared for centuries to help Jesus Christ bring about the Atonement for all mankind.
4. A knowledge of the importance of living prophets to direct people.
5. Consolation in hard times by reading Psalms and how other people like Esther and and the woman with the issue of blood solved life-threatening problems.
6. A knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the example He set throughout His entire life, as well as what His personality and teaching methods are.
7. A knowledge of the way that God's authority, or Priesthood, is used both anciently and presently.
8. A wealth of inspired lines and answers that often return as answers to my own prayers.
9. A source of inspiration for some of the best music I have heard, including Handel's "Messiah."
10. A knowledge of how Jesus Christ's church was organized including how the position of women was elevated from how other cultures saw them, so that I can have a fuller knowledge of how my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fits into the pattern of God for my life's purpose and destiny.
Of course, you have to read it, ponder it, and pray about it to get anything out of it at all. Have a happy day!

Answer 4

Just because the Bible can be interpreted in different ways doesn't make it any less important. God gives us choices and free will, and the Bible is just another example of that. He let's you interpret it any way you want. The Qur'an is no different, and obviously sometimes people make poor choices from their interpretations. If you choose to think of the Bible as invalid because of this then that's also your choice (although I feel sorry for you because life is definitely better when God is central in it). Just make sure you're not interpreting the Da Vinci Code literally either.

Answer 5

I've never really been worried about literal interpretation. The basic messages remain the same, regardless. All this parsing and dissecting of sentences and meanings is not possibly what Jesus could have had in mind.

Mark 10:15 - "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein."

This means that it should be simple enough so that you can explain it even to a little child or the simple-minded. Otherwise the implication is that salvation is denied to children and the simple-minded, which is absurd.

And from Mark 12:30-31 when asked the greatest commandments Jesus said: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

So this is what it boils down to. You strive to follow God's laws (i.e, the ten commandments) and when you fall short (which you will), repent and pray for forgiveness.

I think this can easily be explained to a child.

Answer 6

I dont like when people say "do you interpret the Bible literally?"

I dont like this because there are both Literal and symbolic things in the Bible and you interpret them to their own.

For instance Jesus spoke in parables.

You simply have to just use common sense to figure out what in the Bible is to be taken as what.

Answer 7

U can't take the bible literally! look at Jonah and the big fish, u can't actually live in the belly of a fish they have digestive systems and stomach acid u would die! And Noah's ark, there r like billions of species of insects alone u honestly believe he got 2 of every kind and then made them breed? it's ridicules to thing most of the stories in the bible r true!

Answer 8

I don't understand your criticism. For me, the Bible study is at the core of my church experience, precisely because I DO get to interject my gnostic tendencies into the discussion. For that reason, I'm delighted with non-literal interpretations of the Bible.

Answer 9

agreed

so what relevance does it have for me an atheist

i read job
man who lost his money and his wife and children

and he said that if this glorified god so be it

but you say i dont believe in god

but couldn't there be a meaning for you and me

that can we still be happy without family friends home,etc

this is one thing i rather like


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you and me know there is not a god, or maybe you do, i dont not really, not the bible one,
but many do,
you think they are crazy
well, its good to know what they think right

so like you can say what about leviticus 25.44 it authorizes slavery

then they give you their little answer they have memorized o no it was different back then


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qu'ran ive ordered online, free one you see
some muslims want to kill me for being here in america
they base it on their qu'ran

i will read and think for myself if that arguement has merit, not based on a word of god, but based on a nother mans believe in it

see the difference

learn the ways and words of those who dont believe as you

Answer 10

None what so ever!
Do you mean the Old Testament? Fables agreed upon by a bunch misogynistic old men? Or the New , where their descendants slew Jesus for his preaching?