some of the theories are good, but I dont think any of it is the absolute truth, just an interpretation of it.
2007-03-06 06:03:52 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't think the bible can ever be taken as literal but it does have some good stories to live by. Just like Buddhism and Hinduism and Islam...everything has positive messages.
2007-03-06 06:07:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
I think the Bible is a story, and has its good and bad points. The fact of the matter is - you will be lied to about what the bible really means. There are many different interpretations/translations, and this does not lead it to be the best tool.
I WILL NOT USE THE BIBLE AS A MORAL COMPASS. There have been too many horrible things justified by the bible that I will not practice. Racism, slavery, misogyny... just as the tip of the iceburg.
2007-03-06 06:12:25 · answer #2 · answered by meyowmix 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe the opposite. With a caveat.
When you start saying the Bible is not literal, you will get in to trouble every time. There were more than 10 prophecies that said that Israel would regather into a nation. Many said that this was not literal, and were proven fools in 1948.
Example:
Robert Anderson who was the inspector for Scotland Yard (who caught Jack the Ripper) took the book of Daniel as providing the date Messiah was to come. His incredible calculations pinpointed the DAY Jesus rode in to Jerusalem. For this and other accomplishments, he was knighted by Queen Victoria and became Sir Robert Anderson.
However, he read other prophesies regarding Israel becoming a nation again and thought that this was WAY too preposterous. No nation, after being conquered and scattered, EVER returned again to form a nation and a people. So it must have had some "allegorical" meaning to it.
Well, in 1948, Sir Robert Anderson was proven wrong. Sir Robert Anderson believed the Bible, but his doubt in a wild claim such as Israel becoming a nation was too much for him. THAT is how accurate prophecy is. Before the fulfillment took place, Anderson assumed it was wrong (having lived in the Victorian era pre 1948). He twisted nothing, but assumed it was something else entirely.
To conclude:
I would not want to be one to allegorize salvation, hell, the cross, the resurrection, and find out later it was all true... and it being too late to change your mind.
2007-03-06 06:06:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
You read the Bible in its correct context. Poetic verses should be read poetically. History should be taken literally. Just as you read any other type of literature, you also read the Bible.
When you look at the Scriptures, you should look at it literally first, and adapt based on the type of literature it is.
If you don't take the literal texts literally, who decides what is true? You? Me? If that is the case, then man becomes the arbiter of truth instead of God. And if He didn't mean what He said, why bother with it at all?
Either Jesus meant what He said, or He was deluded beyond belief, or a complete liar. The fact is, He is who He said he is, and His Word will never fail or disappear. (Matthew 5:17-18)
2007-03-06 06:10:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think most of the stories in the Bible are a horrible parable by which to lead one's life. If you tried 70% of the crap people did in the Bible you'd spend the rest of your life in jail.
2007-03-06 06:18:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like all the other books claiming to be "revelations from God" it has it merits and its demerits.
On the one hand you have bloody god of Moses, in Numbers 31, who through his prophet orders the execution of Midianite women and male children taken captive in war and the parceling out of the virgin girls for the soldiers as spoils of war. Of course calling a prisoner of war a "wife" instead of a concubine is just an apologist's nice way of saying sexual slavery is cool with God as long as you pretend its marriage.
On the other hand you have Jesus in John 8:3 and "the woman taken in adultery" and his challenge, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Now if the first thing he had said was, "If she was "taken in the very act" then where is the man that was with her and why didn't you bring him for stoning too. Or is adultery a crime only a woman can commit?" Then he would really have impressed me.
2007-03-06 06:24:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, I have to disagree with you. Fundamental Christians believe that the Word of God is literal. Jesus does tell us parables to make a point, for understanding, but even those parables are about actual people.
2007-03-06 06:09:13 · answer #7 · answered by angel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the closest truth is to live life as well as you can; learn how to love and forgive and help the helpless; and don't judge others. Sometimes these things are mentioned in the bible and other times they're a**backward. Some things are alright though. The good things that seem to make sense anyway.
2007-03-06 06:08:33 · answer #8 · answered by Virgo 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes I agree. There are lots of good things in the bible, and in many other religions. There is the bible then the book of Revelations. It depends on which book you are reading.
2007-03-06 06:10:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe that ( what you just said) 100%
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I think the bible is a good moral story.
full of metophores. But that's the thing with metophores, they get taken too seriousely.
2007-03-06 06:07:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋