Question for christians...?

Question

I'm an atheist, i choose to highlight christianity cos i know more about it than any other religion (i've had my brushes with christianity). I've seen lots of christians saying the bible is literal, others say its symbolic so my question is this? If you are a christian do you think its literal or symbolic? If its literal then how do you explain such stories as noah's ark as there is no way he could get 10 billion species of animals on 1 boat. And those who believe it is symbolic, how can you say its the work of god if its symbolic because that shows that it didn't really happen and its just stories. I don't mean any offence by this i am truely interested in your beliefs.

Answer 1

The bible was written by men, not God. It is just a book, and a nonsensical book at that. It's ok to believe or not to believe. I will see you on the other side.

Answer 2

Good question. First, I've got to get this off my chest, Noah's ark has not been found, the idea that there were less species of animals around in Noah's time which explains how they all got onto the ark is rediculous, and the text says that the entire world was flooded. Even if only the known world was flooded the amount of water necessary to do so would not have been absorbed by the land yet, so the entire Mesopotamian area would still be underwater.

I am a Christian, and I see the text as primarily symbolic myth with threads of history woven into it. The discipline of history writing was different in Biblical times, and it wasn't rare that an historian would tell history through myth, make up a speach and write it as if a famous political, philosophical, or religious leader said it, or they would make up deeds about the aforementioned people (which was ethical as long as it conformed to the general consensus as to what kind of acts a particular person was likely to do).

Our world is so separated from the world of the Bible that it is generally unintelligable to us. We do not have enough access to the history, sociology, economy, literary devices and forms, etc., of the Biblical times to form any kind of concrete opinion about what the text means. And then there are the points where Scripture contradicts itself which introduces another litany of problems. I've studied the Bible in an academic setting now for 5 years, and the list of problems with the text grows daily.

I struggle with these things. The Biblical text, as I see it, is a thoroughly human document within which lies some spark of divine knowledge. Since I was raised as a Christian and since Christianity is still important to me, I choose to access the great mystery of the divine through the Christian tradition, and my point of entry is the Biblical text. Sorry this was so long. Nice question.

Answer 3

I think that when people say they take the Bible literally, they mean that passages concerning say, women being quiet in church, etc. to another level, using it to downgrade women's role in the church. Or, they take Jesus' teachings about turning the other cheek very literally. However, to say that it is symbolism means that you understand that the Bible was written a long time ago, and that it is not meant to be taken 100% literally--When Jesus says "Go and make Disciples of all nations," He doesn't mean that we should all make an appointment with world leaders in order to convert them and their country. The trick is to be choosy about what parts of the Bible you take literally, and what parts you interpret for yourself. It's a balance.

Your example of Noah's ark is a good example of misinterpretation. While according to today's standards, the Ark story seems mythical and untrue. However, it takes faith in order to understand the meaning of this story--that God made a promise to Noah and his family, and to the future generations, that he would never destroy the earth with a flood ever again. And so far, there has never been another worldwide flood. Some archaeologists also have said that they found the ark...However that, like most things in religion, is debatable. If you have faith that the ark story did truly happen, then your faith in God grows. I hope that helps!

P.S. the 10 Billion species--maybe there was only one species at that time, and through evolution and adaptation the different species developed--just a theory.

Answer 4

The Bible is literal and uses stories that are symbolic as well. Like Noah's ark, back in those times, there weren't 10 billion species of animals. But because Noah was able to get all the animals he could on the boat, the animals were able to continue to produce and breed and from that came the various species we have today. But everything in the Old Testament and most of the New Testament are factual things that happened. All it takes is a trip to Israel to walk the paths that Jesus walked. It's symbolic because we use the parables and stories as examples of things that happened back then that mirror what is going on now. Hope that helps.

Answer 5

This sounds middle of the road, but I take some as literal and some symbolic, depending on the context of things.
The boat was large, and Noah didn't have to take every variety of animal such as 30 different kind of cats or 50 kinds of dogs. These animals would have had the genes in them for the diversity we now see, which came out by humans selecting them.

Answer 6

The bible is the word of God it teaches us and guide us.
God can do the impossible if wanted it he got it.But about the ark God gave Noah the plans for the ark.Look how long it took him to build it the you will understand how he fitted everything inside.I believe that everything in the bible as it is written did happen and when the end comes will happen just as the word of God for-tells it.

Answer 7

Actually there is a group of scientist, GASP, who actuall figure out that at the time of the great flood there were fewer speices of animal and that given the measurements of the ark it could have theoritically held all it was said to plus food for all.I think the bible has both literal translations as well as symbolism (parables). I think you have to read it yourself and see where it leads you. it is not a book to be read from front to back at one time as you may get confused with some of the begats and such. However, if you take the time to read a passage at a time and not just a verse you will find greater relevance in what you are reading.

Answer 8

Some of us believe the Bible is a collection of myths and allegories circulating at the time it was written. Scholars throughout the ages have used the stories and politics of the dysfunctional families as examples NOT to follow. If we don't learn from history, we are bound to repeat it.

The laws of the "Old Testament" are meant to bring peace on earth -- the goal of Judaism. Jesus cancelled the law and Christians use the stories to gain peace of mind and entrance into heaven.

The Bible is only what man makes of it.

Answer 9

The bible, to me as a non-believer-type person, is a nice book full of quirky stories.

The inconsistencies of plot, setting and reality are infuriatingly obvious; however the moral codes that underpin the stories are kind of the point to start with, therefore anything around the point will be illusory in one form or another.

To me, almost all the religous texts are allegorical at worst and wildly imaginative at best and yet Christianity is probably the most toned down of them all in terms of crazy supernatural and fantastic shizne.

I would say, in terms of telling stories that have got to be good enough to last 2000-4000 years, You have got to make them crazy and exciting or else they ain't going to stick...


nowotimean

Answer 10

tHE BIBLE IS LITERAL oNLY dANIEL AND THE rEVALTION IS SYMBOLIC. SOME OF THE STORIES IN THE GOSPELS ARE SYMBOLIC TOO. NOAH'S ARK IS NOT SYMBOLIC. THERE WEREN'T MILIONS OF ANIMALS IN THAT TIME. oNLY A FEW DIFFRENT TYPES. THEY ONLY STARETED INTERBREEDING WAY AFTER THE FLOOD. THE ANGELS LEAD THE ANIMALS INTO THE ARK. ONLY 2 OF EACH UNCLEAN TYPE AND 7 OF THE CLEAN TYPE(SO THEY COULD EAT). I HOPE THIS ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. MANY PEOPLE SAY LOTS OF THINGS IN THE BIBLE ARE SYMBOLIC BECAUSE THEY CAN'T EXPLAIN OR THEY ARE TOO LAZY TO EXPLAIN IT. CHRISTIANS SHOULD STUDY THEIR BIBLES MORE OFTEN.!!