Some people say that the Bible should be accepted literally, word for word. Others say that some or all of the stories contained within the Bible are metaphors or allegory.
Who's right, and more importantly, WHY?
2007-02-27 07:04:43 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
GREAT QUESTION!!!
I am convinced that the greater value of the Bible is its moral teaching, not its historical or scientific accuracy
refer to the book of John Chapter 3
to be born again, does NOT literally mean to pass through your mother's birth canal again
same as with other allegories
I am convinced God has revealed to us science for good purposes and I reject the zealots who demand literal- ness
Everyone knows you cannot breed the off spring (sister-brother) of animals, yet a literal interpretation of Genesis and Noah and the Flood, would literally mean that
most important to me (and I offer to you) listen to your heart
I have never found it necessary to know if a man can live inside a whale for 3 days to know how to act when an opportunity to be a servant of God presents itself
The New Testament shows Jesus's (and Paul's and Peter's) struggle with zealots who demanded a literal interpretation, He did not put up with it, neither should you
Faith should be bring joy. If religion was meant to be as complicated and cold as algebra, it would be devoid of spirituality
hope that helps
2007-02-27 07:19:51 · answer #1 · answered by mike c 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a countable number of literal things in the bible- the virgin birth, the resurrection, the miracles Jesus did are some I can think of off the top of my head. The rest can be considered metaphors, but a priest might be able to answer this question better.
2007-02-27 07:10:09 · answer #2 · answered by verbalise 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don;t think there is a right or wrong. People, unfortunately, take the Bible out of context, and use the words to suit their needs. I think the Bible should be read and interpretted by the individual. If it makes a reverend, or a church, or a pastor happy or promotes more seats in the church, they will find a way to twist the context of the words to suit those purposes. I don't like it, and I don;t think everyone does that, but it hurts the book itself.
2007-02-27 07:10:05 · answer #3 · answered by Kevin M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on what you want from the Bible. If you want to find out about the people who wrote the texts in the Bible, you need to read it literally. If you want to find ways to apply what's in the Bible to daily life now, you need to interpret it with metaphors and analogy - because it obviously wasn't written with current medical care in mind (for instance).
2007-02-27 07:15:19 · answer #4 · answered by katinka hesselink 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
And the correct answer is that much of the Bible is religious history and some of the Bible is allegory. How do you tell the difference? some of it is obvious, for example, Jesus taught using parables. These parables are stories used to illustrate truth. Other, you have to ask for spiritual guidance for it is really only the Spirit that can tell you.
As for all of it, nearly everything in the Bible whether true history or allegory can be accepted as true for the principles of truth that are being conveyed.
2007-02-27 07:12:47 · answer #5 · answered by rbarc 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Things that are to be taken literally in the Bible are all the historical records, including a literal interpretation of Genesis. Dreams, visions, and the parables of Jesus are not meant to be taken literally, but meant to teach a point. The imagery of Revelation is encoded, so they are not to be taken literally at face value, but they must be decoded via the book of Daniel, then it may be taken literally, because you would find that it is an historical record, as well as a record of future history.
2007-02-27 07:18:46 · answer #6 · answered by FUNdie 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
the appropriate suggestion i've got heard is to persist with the stimulated word of the Bible. of direction it fairly is going to be unable to be literal, and there are a number of metaphors. it is likewise important to look on the context of ways/while it replaced into written. The subculture, and words that could have meant something distinctive the two 2000 years in the past, or 4 hundred years in the past, while the King James replaced into translated.additionally, word that many verses have been "tampered with" by skill of particular people (properly, adult men) alongside the way, to greater advantageous greater healthful their present day time table. to illustrate, while it says that homosexuality is an "abomination," that word abomination replaced into no longer as damning then because it rather is now (it certainly meant that it replaced into against the way issues have been generally performed interior the subculture, like ingesting shrimp to illustrate - additionally an "abomination") and yet it fairly is between the main properly-known verses for anti-gay conservatives to quote. yet another occasion, in case you look on the ten commandments in Exodus, be conscious which sentences, or a million/2-sentences stick out from the others. be conscious any? The section approximately being a jealous God, scholars now be responsive to, replaced into extra plenty in a while, in all hazard by skill of a guy who replaced into attempting to steer his congregation in his very own way; it replaced into no longer interior the unique verse. i don't be responsive to all of them by skill of verse and the specifics, even nevertheless it rather is a good element to keep in mind as you examine, and take the stimulated word of the Bible. I could desire to make sparkling, i'm a Christian who reads the Bible (between many different books) daily, looking great know-how and convenience in it. yet, as a instructor as quickly as stated to me, "absolutely everyone who makes use of the Bible to instruct a factor hasn't examine the full element". Like while the disciples' "hearts burned interior of them" related to the Christ, persist with your heart and hear God with your religious ears exceptionally. best for you for being a fact seeker!
2016-09-29 23:50:17 · answer #7 · answered by heusel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Things should be looked at as metaphorically instead of literally. I asked a question similar to this one in my profile check it out if you like. Check out the link it was a question I asked a few days ago.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnqOWeiKpoNOyDS.LptCamnsy6IX?qid=20070224113935AA2giwy
2007-02-27 07:08:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
would have to have an example of a metaphor to answer the question....makes a good door stop though
2007-02-27 07:07:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is how: Figure out what you want. Read a passage that pertains. If it still doesn't say what you want, you can stretch it up to 365000 times it's original intent to make it work.
2007-02-27 07:12:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋