Why do Atheist preceive scriptures through....?

Question

a reactionary mindset that doesn't rise above the level of literalism? What I am saying is this, having enough intellect to know the bible is so flawed from a literal standpoint, why even entertain the notion as if it was intended for ritualistic and traditions, rather than an allegory of esoteric realities of mind and being and the forces by which control this universe (especially those that everything is determine through, much like Einstein through his knowledge of Quantum Mechanics felt that all things were determined by laws) through the ancient wisdom symbols of their day?

It appears to me that the judgment is always through this obscure dislike of modern religious, but if you go deep enough into the theology you'll find that they didn't regard scriptures as literal, but allegory with an immense spiritual meaning. So why read it from a prospective that does not even resemble the manner in which it was commonly understood? The below are quotes that prove this...

Church Father Origen state: “What man of sense will agree with the statement that the first, second and third days in which the evening is named and the morning, were without sun, moon and stars, and the first day without a heaven. What man is found such an idiot as to suppose that God planted trees in paradise in Eden, like a husbandman, and planted therein the tree of life, perceptible to the eyes and senses, which gave life to the eater thereof; and another tree which gave to the eater thereof a knowledge of good and evil? I believe that every man must hold these things for images, under which the hidden sense lies concealed” (Origen - Huet., Prigeniana, 167 Franck, p. 142).

Saint Augustine in De Doctrina Christiana: "What the apostle says pertains to this problem: 'For the letter killeth, but the spirit quickeneth', that is, when that which is said figuratively is taken as though it were literal, it is understood carnally. Nor can anything more appropriately be called the death of the soul than that condition in which the thing which distinguishes us from beasts, which is the understanding, is subjected to the flesh in the pursuit of the letter. He who follows the letter takes figurative expressions as though they were literal and does not refer the things signifies to anything else...

Peter in Clementine Homilies, “But, my son, as I said, such stories have a peculiar and philosophical meaning, which can be allegorically set forth in such a way that you yourself would listen with wonder.”

"Thus the tales related in the Torah are simply her outer garments, and woe to the man who regards that outer garb as the Torah itself, for such a man will be deprived of portion in the next world. Thus David said: 'Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law' (Psalms 119:18), that is to say, the things that are underneath. See now. The most visible part of a man are the clothes that he has on, and they who lack understanding, when they look at the man, are apt not to see more in him than these clothes. In reality, however, it is the body of the man that constitutes the pride of his clothes, and his soul constitutes the pride of his body" (The Zohar; Edited by Gershom G. Scholem, Zohar- The Book of Splendor, Basic Readings from the Kabbalah [New York, Schocken Books, 1949])

What I mean is, it seems that your so quick to call it all nonsense, because it is seen from a reactionary point of view as though it were meant to be literal, but history shows it wasn't.

Btw it is important because it has nothing to do with faith in that since, but has to do with being a catalyst by which one can come about knowledge of ones self. It is about knowledge. The key of knowledge was to turn scriptures within, not perceive them outwardly. Because their historical use were to invoke gnosis.

the first Answer, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. It was formed by people who were mystics that experienced what they would refer as higher reality of mind and being, but since such things are impossible to explain to people of a organic mindset they applied things through the physical sense, what man is relative to. Secular ignorance from the first answer.

I'm not bashing Atheist, I don't understand their reactionary mindset, I would call it all garbage if it wasn't proven through history to relate to things they could not explain otherwise. There is a pattern, why refuse to see? Most of the literalist are Pharisaic in mind.

I am not a Christian btw, so I don't believe God wrote the bible, people did. And about Einstein, it wasn't an attempt to sound smart, Paul S. Einstein was a Determinist, was he not?

Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control. It is determined for the insect as well as the star. Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper.
– Albert Einstein

Answer 1

Because religious fundamentalists tend to interpret scripture literally and tend to annoy atheists. Thus atheists direct all their critism at the people who annoy them the most.

Answer 2

The men you quoted are not necessarily giving an accurate portrayal of the Bible, just THEIR beliefs about the Bible. Origen in particular was quite the heretic.

While certain parts of the Bible are not meant to be taken as literally true (prophetic symbolism, parables, many Old Testament songs and poems) on the whole the Scriptures to claim to be, and are, literal, objective truth. A person who puts a bit of time and effort into studying the Bible, which every Christian is meant to do, should have little difficulty understanding what segments are meant literally and which are figurative or allegory.

Assuming, that is, that they haven't been confused by someone's false doctrine beforehand.

Answer 3

so you are saying that the bible is literally "not true"...then why center your life around it if it is just a bunch of made up stories?

Pretend you are God, and pretend that you want to give the world a book that sets forth the rules of life. Are you going to give them a bunch of made up stories that can be proven false because you think they will "get the message"? Or, do you give them an accurate and detailed account of the way the world really works? Obviously if there was a God he would pick the second option.
-Saying, "the bible is not literally true" is the same thing as saying, "I know there are parts of the Bible that aren't true, but the important thing is the message". Which is GARBAGE. If you think the Bible is inspired by God, then how can you also agree that parts of it are not true? Why would God put things in it that are false? Face it, the Bible was written by PEOPLE without divine inspiration.

Answer 4

It must first be pointed out that many theists, particular pop culture ones like James Kennedy, Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible. They believe in a seven day creation, the flood of Genesis, and the plagues of Exodus just as they believe in the resurrection and the virgin birth.

I also must ask, if certain scriptures are to be taken literally and others metaphorically (still waiting on what metaphor the genocide of Exodus offers), I must ask what the criteria will be? The Fundamentalists actually have better theology -- they don't pick and choose the way liberals do. Their book is the Word of God, and they know it.

That makes fundamentalists have only one fallacy -- the unambiguous belief of their sacred texts. A liberal theologian has a lot more explaining to do.

Answer 5

It is a mans translation of writings and it has been translated so many times things will be changed and distorted to fit the persons beliefs who is translating it. Like the messenger game. Doesn't mean I am an athiest or don't believe in god, I believe some of the bible. I don't believe that my opinion on all the writings in the bible or the persons beliefs who is translating it for me (in sermon) makes me any less of a christian. I feel god pretty much cares about whether I do believe in him love him and be the kind of person he would like me to be. Every priest pastor and minister is going to teach the bible the way that fits how they feel and believe. Which is why I don't go to church, but I still worship

Answer 6

"much like Einstein through his knowledge of Quantum Mechanics felt that all things were determined by laws) through the ancient wisdom symbols of their day?"

You know, when you try so hard to sound smarter than you are, you really fall flat on your face. It should be fairly obvious what's wrong with what you wrote there - since you don't know anything about Einstein, it would have been a good idea not to have pretended to.

Later: Einstein was a determinist DESPITE his knowledge of quantum physics, not because of it.

Answer 7

you may have confidence what you like approximately your scriptures however the 2nd you commence offering them as technological understanding in colleges is once you incur the wrath of scientists. If scriptures are the way human beings 1000's of years in the past observed the international, nice, yet that would not propose they have been appropriate and, in certainty, they have been incorrect. shop your scriptures as a non secular text cloth yet they demonstrate not something of technological understanding and not very lots of historic previous. There are some issues interior the Bible that are actual and there are a number of stuff that are actually not. in case you may not see the version you have had a bad guidance and have in no way found out excessive thinking.

Answer 8

If god wrote (or dictated) the bible, why would he have it written in such a way that it is ambiguous and require interpretation? Surely this would create the problems with religion that we see today, Even christians can't agree on many of the meanings.

Answer 9

Is this a question or a sermon?
I fear that the atheists will not spend so much time for reading and then start making an objective study.
However, all people, whether atheists or theists, scholars or illiterates, old or young, wiil necessary try to learn something for their happy living. Now is no longer the time for physical or intellecttual laziness.

Answer 10

I do not accept the god concept although I fail to resemble your idea of mindset or perception . Eisnstien did not like Quantum theory and ususally semi-insane Christians are the mainstay of literal translation of biblical text not atheist unless addressing the former . Is there something you thought that comes close to reality because I certainly missed it if it was there .keep trying .
peace out