Why are there stupid believers that interpret their religons literally?

Question

Please read the entire post because I do not want people shouting out things like 'Christianity is the true religon' or 'my god is the only real living god'


Literal interpretation of any faith comes from those who look only at the surface (like saying yes the everything is created in 7 days or Noah really captured 2 of every species on a boat). These believers feel that meaning and factuality are inextricably linked (they say the bible is factual because it is), and for this they fail to appreciate the true genius and beauty of the faith, as well as the beauty and similarity of other faiths (they close their eyes and ears for other religons). Monks of one religion understand and respect monks of another religion.

Bottomline: Laymen of one religion hate and mistrust the laymen of other religions.

So how do you educate these people so we can wipe out ignorance and senseless hatred?

If you r one of these laymens, then what would it take for you to stop hating others?

Answer 1

I think that some people take their religion so literally because they can't exist without something so clear cut.

They need to know exactely what to do all the time without ever making an informed decision for themselves.

Then they come along to this magical book and say "wow! This tells me what to do and what to think all the time!"

It solves all of their problems while making much more difficult larger problems for everyone else.

How can we educate them?
I wish I knew.

Answer 2

I've read about a number of people and organizations that are making an effort to unite people of all religions and the progress that is being made - not enough, to be sure, but it is happening. They understand that the quibbling amongst the numerous denominations based upon subjective interpretations of the Bible is ultimately self-defeating. As long as the churches are divided, they have little power to truly change the world.
The day will come when a clear explanation will appear but will we be open-minded enough to accept it? And the one who brings that clarity - will he be followed, or cruified again? Suppose he doesn't come the way we expect him to? The Bible says he will "come on the clouds". The Bible says he will come "like a thief in the night". Please check for yourself - both of these phrases refer to the Second Coming. How is the apparent contradiction resolved? Suppose "clouds" are not the literal clouds in the sky? After all, the phrase "clouds of witnesses" also appears several times in the Bible. Clouds are purified water. Perhaps he simply comes among those prepared to receive him; those who have purified themselves through prayer and right action. We need to be careful how we interpret these things or how we are told to interpret them.
Sometimes I wonder what century I'm living in when I meet people who believe that the Messiah is going to just float in on the clouds and believers are going to be caught up in the air while the evil ones are left behind. Let me ask - if you, your mom and dad all go to heaven but your brother or sister is rejected, will you be so happy in your heaven? Won't your heart be breaking that your sibling still suffers? For that matter, won't God's own heart be grieving for his lost son or daughter? Will you frolic in heaven while your Father grieves?
The Bible can be a wonderful guide for our lives, but, isn't it ironic that the words meant to bring us closer to God, might also separate us from Him? Without prayer, the Bible becomes just an interesting, historical commentary.

Answer 3

I guess I'm a stupid christian. Gee that whole statement sounds kind of hateful.

We take it literally because It was written to dumb shepards who had to have it read to them and they had to understand it. Metiphysical and deeper meanings are there but it was written to instruct the masses not the scholars.

Golly Gee Polly Anna you mean people really believe what their holy books say. Yep. Because that is the point isn't it. What good is a book you have to think to deeply about when what you need to concentrate on is mending your fence.

Not many wisemen are called not many noble. God chose the foolish of the world. Where are you at? Sounds like you think yourself wise.

If you do not believe in your faith what good is it? Its just mumbo jumbo isn't it. If my faith says that You are saved only thought Yahshua and someone elses says Its mohammad and I will kill you if you don't agree, I'm spose to educate him how?

I don't hate anyone I just don't agree with them. You however seem to by you opening statement hate christians.

Answer 4

Layman and uneducated are not synonymous. See, the issue is not one of understanding and respect, but whose God is the real one. Belief is only validated if it's actually true!!!! If I believe that the sun is black, you may understand and respect my right to believe that, but you would know in your heart it was false. And no matter how firmly I stick to my beliefs, or if my beliefs were older than yours, or I had hundreds of facts that seemed to point to the sun being black, YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER! Every person on earth will have to come to terms with whether their god is the true god. Whoever's wrong, it will cost them through all eternity. But at least they will have won some brownie points on Yahoo! Answers before they perished.

Answer 5

Scoff at them all you like, but those that interpret literally the scriptures of their faith are those that shall reap the greatest benefits from their steadfastness to fundamentalism. Look to Christianity for proof of my assertion.

When the Beast makes his appearance, having seven heads and ten horns with ten crowns upon those thorns, they will know to flee that son of perdition while the rest of us are left quizzically staring at the creature, not really knowing how to react despite our intellectual faculties!

Answer 6

Those are people that have become religiously fanatically insane, they have absolutely no common sense or logic in their lives, I do know people like that and as far as I am concerned they really need to be committed to a mental institution, they are a disgrace to Christianity in my opinion.

Answer 7

Answer. It's easy to just follow the rules than it is to think. When you think you take on responsibility. You know what happened to Adam and Eve when they bit the apple of knowledge... It was good bye garden and hello to responsibility for our own actions - get a job - read, think, and take charge of our own spiritual growth.

It's so much easier to by someone's dogma and blame others if things don't go our way.

Answer 8

Hi, I dont think Christians hate other believers. I think they just love Jesus and want them to do the same - for one reason they have been blessed abundantly (not materially). Because they love with His love (Agape love) they want others to be blessed too! Bless you!

Answer 9

A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices...........Only Jesus Christ will be the One to do away with all hatred...when He Returns at His Second Coming..<><

Answer 10

well In order to wipe out ignorance and senseless hatred we need to convert the atheist primates so they will stop fighting. Jesus takes the fighting away.