Why do people interpret the Bible literally?

Question

I am a Christian, but I do not believe that the Bible should be taken literally. There is so much information that is missing, like historical, cultureal and social context. Also, the original text was written in a language that is no longer "common." I think our "modern" Bible is based on a greek translation, so we are reading a translation of a translation, etc. I don't understand Christians who exclude, spread hate and negativity based on their shrewd interpretation of a "faulty" text. What do you think?

Answer 1

Amen and Amen, but good luck. All excellent points.
For some people that's just way to much thinking. It's much easier to just say "God said it, I believe, that settles it..."
I think so many of the issues people have with God and faith would be resolved if people stopped building their entire faith on taking the Bible as "literal, inerrant, etc..."

Answer 2

Some Passages In The Bible Are To Be Taken Literally And Some Are To Be Taken Figuratively, And Some Are Parrables, In All Cases, The Bible Is A Spiritual Book (Word Of GOD) For Spiritual Born Again People And Should Be Studied Spiritually!..... (2 Tim.3:16)....To Answer Your Second Question As To Christians Spreading Hate Based On Their Shrewd Interpretation Etc......I'm A Christian And I Don't Spread Hate And Neither Does Many Many Many Other Chrisatians I Know That Don't Spread Hate Because GOD's Word Is Not Based On Hate!.......Are You Sure Those You're Speaking About Truly Are Christians!.....True Christians Don't Degrade One Another!

Answer 3

Firstly, there are various translations of the Bible, almost all of which were translated from the original Hebrew, Aramaic (Old Testament) and ancient Greek (New Testament).

Secondly, are you saying that absolutely NOTHING in the Bible should be taken literally? This is what you seem to be saying. Isn't that the other extreme to those who say that EVERYTHING in the Bible should be taken literally?

Finally, there are many who take the Bible both literally and figuratively, depending on the context of the text. And even some literal passages may have a secondary application.

I am appalled that you say you are a Christian and do not believe that Jesus was crucified on the cross, as described literally in the Bible. Sure, some information may me missing or contradictory. That does not mean the Jesus did not die on the cross.

Answer 4

I heard once in Church service that not taking the bible literally is acknowledging the fact that some of it might be wrong. I think it's also part of the doctrine of the Christian faith that bible is the very word of God. If that's true then it has to be literal because God is infallible.
That's what some people think at least...

As for the present day bible it's been cut and pasted so many times (Council of Nicea, Council at Carthage Etc.) Who knows what might have gotten lost in translation. Let's hope it wasn't something important

Answer 5

People try to say believe "only" in the name and you will be saved; but forget that back then a name was a title of who the person was. Yahshua (Jesus) "was and stil is" the Word Of God. That means that what he says we are to do, is what you "must" believe. He said that the church will be infilatrated by Satan. He says that we are to live by God's traditions and NOT man's traditions. He says "MANY" will come to him saying that they did many things in His name; and He will tell them to depart as He does not know them. He says If you love me you will "KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS". He'd rather have you hot or cold than lukewarm. The road is wide, but the gate is narrow. Forget what Paul and the others say, that sound easier and different. It's "ONLY" what Yahshua says that counts. He preached the 10 commandments; and said we must live by them. That being true, that means "ALL 10", not nine. That means that just believing the Yahshua is Lord alone is not going to save you. His name manss the Word Of God; and if you believe in His name, then you must believe in the word of God. I believe is people practice the 10 commandments (note I said IF), most only practice 1-3 and 5-10; leacing out the 4th. If you read the Bible and forget what your organized religion church you attend translates to, you'll have no choice but to look for a church that keeps all 10 commandments (but be careful, one I know of follows a human's interpretation of the Bible and has been proved wrong with predictions several times. Yahshua tells us that while he is the Son Of God and the Word, the Heavenly Father is more powerful.

Answer 6

I take the Bible literally, I am a Christian, but I am no part of Christendom. I practice biblical principles based on 1st century Christianity. The information is NOT missing. You just haven't examined it closely enough. Take some time out every week to study, actually study the Bible. Now of course, this is besides your regular daily reading and research.

Answer 7

To answer your question:
The Bible is not a historical text, it is a book written by God to explaint o us how to live and get to heaven.
The original texts were written in hebrew, araimic and greek. and two of them are still in use.
The Bible is not a foulty text because when you translate it from one language to another you get the same thing, for example english to german and take a different text and translate chinese to german you will get the same text in german.
The Bible has to be understood from the view point of the person who wrote it. For example when people wrote histories in ancient rome they wrote about what they wanted to talk about and left unnecessary stuff out. because of the price of the materials they were using, papirus was very expansive. That is why the apostoles wrote about Jesus and His ministry and not about Jesus' childhood or if Jesus wasa married or not, or about what he looked like, or what he ate, and other things that they never considered important. Lot of the things seemed unusual to them in their society, they took a lot for granted. If you would write about your day, you would not put down that you sat in a bus , and described every little detail about the bus and how it works and how its engine works because everybody in our culture knows what a bus is . You would wright aboutwhat you did during the day and nort give a ten page description about a bus and every other object in your story.

Answer 8

There are two directions that people usually take on this. Either as you said, everything is taken literally OR everything is a myth, both are false. The Bible is a collection of books. There is history, poetry, parables, etc. As someone said, Every story is true, some of them actually happened.

Answer 9

I believe many things are symbolic and literal. Only the Catholic Church has the authority to interpret scripture. They gave the world the Bible.

Answer 10

I feel you might be on the right track, but then again, that is simply just my humble atheist opinion. ;-) LOL! :-)

I see the bible as allegorical, metaphorical. Much can be gleaned from the bible if not taken so literally, but more of a story that teaches valuable lessons within. Think of the Greco-Roman mythologies. They were parables, much like the Biblical parables, and all taught lessons of life within. :-)