because some is just symbolism? So decides which is real and which isn't?
2006-11-13 11:35:00 · 23 answers · asked by Da Vinci's Code 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Bible is LITERAL
Literal Hogwash
2006-11-13 11:38:18 · answer #1 · answered by Socratic Pig 1 · 3⤊ 3⤋
The Magisterium, or what is known as the teaching authority of the Catholic Church decides.
For Catholics, the Magisterium is the infallible interpreter of the Bible.
With Protestantism rejecting that, we have over 30,000 denominations, all claiming to be simply reading the Bible, but contradicting each other on numerous points.
The Magisterium is the Pope and the bishops united to him.
But if you say: "wait a minute, what about all the bad popes?"
That pertains to their personal conduct which is distinct from their teaching office.
All that the charism of infallibility states is that when a pope declares something as binding on the whole Church in matters of faith or morals (not sports or the weather), then the Holy Spirit prevents him from teaching error.
Although there have been bad popes (but not as many as a prejudiced establishment claims), they have never taught anything contrary to the Catholic Church in a way that is binding.
Without the charism of infallibility, we would only be guessing as to what the truth is. We could never be sure of the right interpretation of the Bible or Christian teaching.
Protestants shop for the Church in which they feel comfortable and validated.
But feelings are not truth.
In the Catholic Faith, there is a concretely identifiable teaching authority that goes all the way back to St. Peter.
As much as human evil has existed in the institution of the Catholic Church (because clerics are only human and sinners like the rest of us), there has always been the integrity of the fullness of Christian truth and the fullness of the sacraments.
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2006-11-13 19:55:29 · answer #2 · answered by Catholic Philosopher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it all depends on the christian denomination, to generalize is a mistake...
For example, Catholics believe in the New Testament portion as the true interpretation. This is because parts in the New Testament are more than simply stories, but historical documentations of certain events or actions at the time period.
The Bible was written by humans, not God, and will therefore always blur between the symbolic and the literal. So therefore, the readings and parables are taken in a more symbolic sense rather than literal fact. The Bible was created as a documentation to reveal the path of holiness of Christ, not to woo people with his miracles. For this reason, people not of Christian belief may be confused in thinking the Bible is a radical, fictituous work, when it is actually intended to guide and teach about the ways of Christ and how people should live their lives.
2006-11-13 19:43:00 · answer #3 · answered by x overmyhead 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Example: Revelation 1:1 Shows that Revelatoin is highly symbolic. Daniel 6:2-12 describe beasts then verse 17 says they mean kings.
2006-11-13 19:58:24 · answer #4 · answered by linniepooh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you read and really think on it - it will be clear.
do you really think people have planks in their eyes and that a camel would even consider fitting through the eye of a needle. if you think about some of the bible text - no it is NOT to be taken literally. look at all the parables.
how about in Mark 10:47 if thine eye offend thee pluck it out. in each gospel there is the colemn passages about "Take and eat this is My Body" Jesus didn't literally slice off a piece of Himself.
look at turn the other cheek.... when someone upsets you do you literally turn the other cheek - actually no for that would be spiteful and rude. think about it literally - you and i are arguing or you do something cruel to me - if i'm looking toward you and turn the other cheek - it's rude and would probably tick you off more. rather we are to love one another.
we are to enter the Kingdom as little children.... so literally we need to kill ourselves before we reach maturity otherwise we're not little children.....
how about your dedendants will be more than the stars inthe heavens and grains of sand -- i don't now any woman that could bear that many literal decendents of one man.....
who decides well to some extent we do.... on the other hand there are theologians and scholars who spend their life praying and doing nothing but studying the bible.
you can easily tell and if you can't, pray for the discrenment and enlightenment from God, if you're sincere it will be granted.
2006-11-13 19:44:22 · answer #5 · answered by Marysia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, very little is to be taken literally. That's the problem. People get hung up on the characters and events rather than the messages. The "final judgment" would seem to be more likely a review of one's acts of compassion than a Biblical trivia quiz.
Do you know the difference between the way people act at a religious convention and the way people act at a Star Wars convention? Me neither.
2006-11-13 19:43:49 · answer #6 · answered by skepsis 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you're asking "who decides" then, yeah, I have to chime in and ask, "Yeah! Who does decide what's real what's symbolic?" There is no human alive now or who's ever lived who is qualified to make a judgment call in cherry-picking which scriptures are real and which are just merely symbolism. If God said a thing happened, then who are we to say, "Oh, He was just kidding. It didn't really happen."
Some words that come to mind in explaining this kind of rationalization are, presumption, manipulation, lying - just to name a few.
2006-11-13 19:46:01 · answer #7 · answered by Carol L 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The minute you realize it is myth, then you open yourself up to the messages contained within. What you are being asked to do is read between the lines. Glean the "intent" and through that, you will open yourself up to the mystery of your being.
It's only when people take the bible and all other holy works as "literal" that we create the kind of ugliness that we continue to see on a daily basis between those of differing religious beliefs. Be smarter than that. Do the real work to discover the meaning within.
2006-11-13 19:43:13 · answer #8 · answered by gjstoryteller 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Symbolisms of the Bible are very clear if you study the word of God.
The Bible is complex yet when you learn it it is very easy to understand. Thats why one MUST study the word of God. It is not a book you can read once and think you have total understanding.
2006-11-13 19:41:25 · answer #9 · answered by ~♥ L ♥~ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apparently churches, religions, and people decide. But I find it hard to believe they are right about everything. By the way did God write a book 2000 years ago then decide to stop talking to us? If so, that makes no sense. If not, I can't understand why the Bible is such a big deal.
2006-11-13 19:41:09 · answer #10 · answered by clueless_nerd 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
so i pose the counter question to you... have you read the bible? not just parts but the text in its entirity? i would suggest you do your research if indeed you intend to find the answer. if you look you will find that there is historic merit in the bible where many of the accounts entailed therein have been verified. For intance, story of Noah wasn't mentioned just in the bible, in some european mythologies, a great flood was mentioned. Some talk about Noah by name. The truth is out there look for it.
2006-11-13 19:53:51 · answer #11 · answered by PhantomWiseman 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋