Why do Christians take the Bible literally?

Question

I went to a Catholic school for the majority of my life. I have also attended Protestant schools. Throughout my "study" of the Bible, I have only found evidence of sexism, anti-Semitism, and contradictory tenets that do not make sense at all.

How can some Christians take so literally the preachings of the Bible when they were obviously made for another era in humanity?

The time of Martin Luther for Protestants is over as well. When he posted the 95 Theses in 1517, he preached for literal, self-study of the Bible and introspection. Let's see...how many years later is it now? The Bible wasn't literally applicable to society in the 16th century, let alone the 21st.

To Alfonso R:

I am agnostic: meaning no particular religion, although I do believe in some kind of a deity.

Answer 1

Because they need someone to tell them what to do.

Answer 2

Catholism was the first religion, inspired by the Holy Ghost.
If we do not take the Holy Bible literally. Then who? When Martin Luther came he started the protestant religion. Now days there are several different kinds of protestants!! The Bible is the word of God! You say the bible, from another era?

Do you want to write a new bible? Wait until the second coming of Jesus, then you can ***** all you want.
One question? What religion do you belong?

Answer 3

I advise you to stop and take another look at the question which you asked? Are you going to tell me that you have spent most of your life in a Christian school, and you do not believe that God intends for you to take the Word of God literally? Evidently, the Christian schools did you no good at all. For God's Word is always to be taken literally. Even though there may be things in the Word of God which must be spiritually interpreted, there are also a greater majority of things which are written to be taken just as they are written. Do you think that Jesus was just joking around when He told us that we should not steal? Or that we should not kill? What do you think about the story of Daniel in the lions den? Do you think that Daniel was just a fairy tale, or tht he was in a cage with a group of kitty cats? I suggest that you ask God to help you to wake up. When He told us that the devil and those who chose to follow him in the end, at the Great White Throne Judgment, would be cast into a lake of fire, He wasen't just telling us this as a fairy tale, or to just try and scare us a little. He literally meant a lake, or a very large body of fire; which burns hotter than any fire that we have ever imagined or been close to. I hope and pray that you will ask for God's forgiveness; and ask Jesus to come into your heart and save your soul. For it is very evident by your remarks that you have ever done so. And whether you want to believe it literally or not, Jesus truly is going to come back to the earth, and it could be at any time. And when He does so, if you have not accepted Him as your personal Savior, they you are looking for a heap of trouble. Give it some thought.

Answer 4

When I first started reading the Bible it didn't make much sense. But as you understand it more and deeper it is actually quite profound. You need to look at the context and also have some understanding on why Jesus said the things he did in that fashion. The Life Application bible would be better for you to understand. If you also pray to God for wisdom, the bible will reveal things to you that you didn't get when you read it before hence the term 'Living Word'.

Answer 5

Throughout the bible, we see many references to the things that were going on at that particular time in history. The people of those days suffered with the same prejudices and concerns that we do today. The sexism, anti-Semitism and any other deplorable attitude that we still see today, occurred back in biblical days also. People are people, no matter what part of history they're from.

Jesus was attempting to teach them a better way. He advised not to look down on the ill, the poor and never to think that we are better than anyone else. As humans, we're to reach out to those less fortunate than us and to warm their spirits as well as their physical being.

The wonderful stories that we were taught as children, of the loaves and fishes, Jonah and the whale, Daniel in the lions den, and many, many more, contain messages that are as relevant today as they were "back in the day."

As far as taking the bible literally, it's faith that allows me to believe that there is a better way. That I am to love others and to maybe make their journey somewhat lighter. I truly believe Jesus died for all my sins and one day I will stand by his side in heaven.

I don't know of anything more relevent for todays society than to realize we are all Gods children and he loves each and every one of us. As our Father, there are times we don't please him, but, he loves unconditionally.

If we lived our lives the way that Jesus commanded us to, what a wonderful world this would be. There would be no wars, no murder, no theft, no crime, no adultry, no fatherless children, no abuse.......this is what heavens going to be like. My faith and the faith of other christians assure us that we will be part of this glorious new world.

Answer 6

The Bible is supposed to be a book with stories in which to model your life. Yes, they tell the "true story" of Jesus, Moses, and the like, but there have been contradictions found and acknowledged by the churches. Granted there are some that don't want to admit fault with the Bible, but the flaws are there. Some people take it way too far and try to do nothing that goes against the Book. This includes chastising and condemning those who do not believe in the Bible or don't follow it right down to the final letter. These are commonly known as "religious fanatics." They act like N*Sync fans when someone says that the Backstreet Boys are a better group. Their way is right and the rest of the world is evil.

Answer 7

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ~ "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

When you think about out it, the whole concept of Christianity, it doesn't make sense. It just doesn't logically line up in our minds. God is so much bigger than logic and what we confine Him to... no where does it say that everything He does and says has to make perfect sense to us all the time. If it doesn't make sense, then why do people proclaim themselves as Christians? Faith. Remembering how God has worked in their lives and how their hearts where changed forever. Because of how Christ has changed my life, I have learned to trust Him. Easier said than done, but He has never left me. If He has given me His word to get to know Him more and to learn more about Him, I believe everything He says, even if it doesn't make sense to me. Take the beattitudes in Matthew for example. They are definetly Not what the world wants to become. The Bible seems less and less "literally applicable" as time goes on becuase the world and culture gets farther and farther away from it.

Answer 8

The answer to your lack of understanding of the Bible lies in your use of quotes on the word "study". Did you really "study" the Bible? Or just read it, seeking to criticize it without really understanding it? The key to understanding the Bible is to forget the mis-information that the world has taught you in school and on TV, and read from your heart. Truly, the Bible does not contradict itself, God does not condone sexist attitudes or behaivor, and the Bible is definitely not anti-Semetic. Jesus was a Jew, and the Jews were chosen by God to be his people (to be an example, to be documented, to be watched).

Answer 9

I guess because it's the 'Word of God?'

I consider myself a christian, but I definetly don't take the bible literally. There are so many versions of it that I think it is left to be interpreted by the reader.

Of course if you tell that to a hardcore christian fundamentalist, I'm sure they would tell me I'm going into hell for thinking that, but I don't care! Christians take the bible literally because when 'the rapture' comes, that's all that's going to matter.

Answer 10

Hey, I'm a pagan who went to Catholic, Methodist, and an Anglican school (no separation of church and state in The Bahamas) and NONE of these schools encouraged literal translations. I think only a few sects of Christianity interpret the bible literally as the norm.

Answer 11

I agree with "moonfroggie" Catholics have a religion. Christians -aka true beleivers have a relationship with Christ Jesus.

We take on the identity of Christ. His Word is truth.
Why not live according to the True and Living Word of God?