Genesis: Literal or Metaphor?

Question

I've seen on one thread that Death, for Adam and Eve was not the physical death, but separation from God. That would define Death as a metaphor for separation.

Too, there are many literalists claiming that God created the world in 6 days (24 hour periods)

Then I hear that "And then there was light" used to back up the idea that the Bible is supports science, but this makes the creation story metaphor as the sudden appearance of light does not due justice to the largest explosion in the history of history.

So, which is it metaphor, literal, or some mixture of both, and if such, how does one determine which is which?

Desperado....
From whom did the Big Bang lose support?
Recent science has detected the background radiation that supports it and verifies the theory. I really don't know how you can make that claim.

Seraph,
I brought in nothing to alter the meaning of any text. I'm just wondering how people take it: is it literal or metaphor or a combination of both.
"Plain reading" doesn't make sense because different people have different educations. Plain meaning can lead two different people to understand things in a completely different manner. Those without an understanding of "eye of the needle might assume that the bible was actually talking about a camel fitting through a neeldes eye rather than a small gate. One needs to understand context before one can understand the "plain meaning".

Answer 1

Ok, here's how I look at Genesis.

It's like....Aesop's Fables. Not really true, but EXREMELY valuabe philosphically. There are so many lessons we can learn from Genesis, especially if we STOP focusing on the literality of it.

Answer 2

Adam and Eve did eventually die a physical death. it is argued that it was just a separation from God, and this could be true. it could also be true that God had planned that they would live forever, and this meant a death eventually. we don't know for sure, though. literally, yes God did create the world in 6 24hr days. isn't that what it says? they just infer just so they can hear what they want to hear. read what it says. i have no idea what you mean in your third paragraph. it is a mixture of both for adam and eve, i believe, but for God creating the world, thats literal

Answer 3

The plain sense meaning approach should be taken. Every word of Genesis 1 means what it says. Is there any reason why Genesis 1 should not mean what it says concerning the chronology of creation and the meaning of the word "day"? If your concern is with evolution, then you should not bring in outside influence to alter the meaning of the text.

Answer 4

nicely us conservative Christians see the Bible as both literal and metaphorical. The e book is chock finished of metaphors so i assume i visit confirm how they could be drawn into wondering that is all metaphor. obviously heritage and archeology works adverse to the organic metaphor view, the Bible is describing genuine places and genuine historic human beings. Even the city of Nineveh became believed for years to be thoroughly a tale. and then ooops they stumbled on it. genuine human beings and places.

Answer 5

What you say is true, only in part. Adam and Eve died in the flesh as well. It represents the two deaths spocken of in the New Testament. The two deaths that men will face at the end.

Answer 6

Literal. Death is real. The big bang has lost its support. No mixture. Ripley had it right-'believe it or not'.

Answer 7

Neither: it's just wrong. The allegations contained therein jibe with scientific fact only occasionally and by coincidence.

Answer 8

In other words.the "spirit of the Word",or the "letter of the Word".Definitely the "spirit".

Answer 9

None of the above, It is just nonsense.