Is the bible to be taken literally?

Question

i guess maybe jesus 'symbolically ' died for our sins.
maybe the the whole heaven and hell thing was just a metaphor?

why can some parts of the bible be taken literally, but selectively, at the convenience of the christians, other parts will be 'interperated'?

Answer 1

Everything in the Bible is true... and *some* of it actually happened! The creation story is allegory and metaphor. It's simply stories about the relationship between God and His chosen people, Israel. The first five books are about the beginnings of the community called Israel, and the rest is stories about their history -- some true and some fictionalized.
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Answer 2

To read something as a metaphor is to see deeper and more hidden meanings rather than the face value. But actually the act of "Reading" itself is an act of interpretation. Even when one takes what one reads as literal one is still interpreting what is being said. Anything can be read both literally and metaphorically the question would have to be How will one know when to read which parts which way? That is entirely up to the reader and the reader's perspective. It is often said of the Bible that one gets from it what one brings to it. If you are seeking to justify something you will find it. If you are seeking to find answers you will find them. The thing is that in every case whatever you found was always within YOU. It would be YOUR decision to accept what you find in justification, conviction, answers, or anything else you find there. And why will you accept it? Because it rings true with that guidance system that everyone has within them. This is true of all religions, songs, books, movies, ideas. It's part of what makes life seem magical that we can find our answers someway somehow. The secret is to realize that those answers came from within YOU. You are your own guide no matter if you give credit to a religion, person, God, hero, or whatever.

Answer 3

I can understand where you are coming from - and have seen many Christians pick and chose what parts to take literally and what parts are just metaphoric.

I don't believe the bible should be taken literal - nor was it ever intended to be that way.

The bible is meant to teach us how to be better in the eyes of God - but is it the literal word of God? No. Was the creation story supposed to be the literal and last word? No. Instead it was to try and explain the condition of the world and where everything came from. The same with the creation myths of other society's.

Answer 4

If someone tries to take it literally, this person would get crazy. It's all about symbols and metaphor. It is supposed to be interpreted by those who read it. That's why so many different points of view. Sometimes I wonder if those different ways of understanding it was not God's purpose.

My opinion is that the Old Testament was written to very wild men, not capable to understand anything about "love your neighbor" kind of thing. Think about how hard it was to Moses to put all his thoughts in order, about everything he was learning from God. That's why he used Laws and Rules to get to the point. This way he made men fear God, instead of think about Him. He was the Ruler.

The New Testament, in the other hand has other type of approach. Jesus' life is an example of love and forgiveness. He exposed other ways to follow God, our Father, not by fear, but by trusting in Him, Jesus. He converted 10 commandments into 2: "love God upon anything else and your neighbor as you love yourself" (I am sorry if I am not using the exact words). He was Love.

My religion is Spiritism.

Peace!

Answer 5

Understand that the Bible contains a wide variety of literary styles, including similes, metaphors, hyperboles, parables, proverbs, and poetry as well as straight narrative passages. Some parts of the Bible were meant to be taken literally and others figuratively.

Answer 6

The Bible itself indicates which parts are meant to be taken literally and which are meant metaphorically. If you read it in context and study the culture of the writer, you can tell what they mean. Just like when your mom says "I'm going to kill you" you know she's not really going to kill you. But when she says "you're not allowed to use the phone for a week" she is speaking literally.

Answer 7

Some believe all the bible should be taken literally
Some believe only parts of it
Others feel it is badly edited fiction

I vote for #3

Answer 8

no the bible doesnt say anything about symbolically
he says we are to be saved by the grace of God because he loved us that much to die for us then why is there such thing as rapture then huh? the bible states clearly and we shouldnt doubt that

i went to a christian school for a long time so i learned

Answer 9

Personally, I would recommend that everyone ignore the words of Paul entirely. Take all else with a big grain of salt and common sense. Do not take any of it literally.

Answer 10

Judging by your previous questions, you are not really interested in an answer, just trying to prove your own point. That's why you answer your question right after you ask it.