Wasn't the bible literal only yesterday, and now people say that almost everything is a metaphor or symbolic?

Question

It seems to me that people will do anything to preserve the idea that they are correct in their beliefs. So much so, that even after nearly everything stops making sense (ie. Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, Tower of Babel, etcetera) people will change the meaning of the stories (at least in their minds) so that it no longer has to be taken literally. Since half the bible is no longer taken literally by most believers, what is the point of believing any of it at all? Why not just take the final step?

It seems that some people will even use bits and pieces of science to support their claims. Just as cults (ie. Heaven's Gate) use bits and pieces of the religion to support theirs. I never saw any science book that says that people are made out of dust.

thirdeyeeagle I bet that you would trust science if you or someone you knew were dying in the hospital. Yet when science supports evolution. Even when the scientists that study primates believe it is feasible... you can't trust it because it goes against your belief. If you don't understand what evolution is all about you should read more about it. It does make sense for those who pay attention in Biology class.

Answer 1

For us to understand God and His works is no more possible than your dog to understand the things you do.

Nothing is impossible with God...not even the ark of Noah.

Answer 2

I do not want to say it is a metaphor or a literal work. Coming from the dust may just be supporting the theory of scientific facts about smallest particles of living organism found as a possible source or origin of life. In the absence of scientific words to begin with in the book of Genesis, it was only appropriate that the limited knowledge of the people whose languages are still undergoing development may have contributed to what we thought as metaphors or symbol.
In the latter part of the Book both the Old and the New Testaments must have also used symbols and metaphors for those who can understand it after a thorough studies with the intention most likely of hiding the real messages from the rulers or scribes that the writers may have considered the enemy of God.
An example:
In the time of Roman Rule, the kingdom that was written to crumble was mentioned as the seven hills of Babylon. Babylon at the time of writing is no longer a powerful kingdom and only Rome was famous for its seven hills. Had the writer, John of Patmos said it was Rome, maybe his Book will not even be found printed today and John of Patmos will never be heard of.

Answer 3

The Bible was literal yesterday? Whoa, I missed that!
The Bible has ALWAYS been a metaphor. One BIG metaphor... Anyone who reads the Bible literally will have a very rough life.
About your last comment: What's the point? The point of the Bible is up to YOU. The real problem, among many, is that people think that priests are the only people who can actually interpret it. Wrong! That's a cult when someone professes THEY are your way to God.

Truth is: LOTS of things were left out of the Bible, and LOTS of things were "put" in. The Bible was written by MAN, not God. SO, lots of things will seem more literal and more metaphorical. The best way to distinguish is by the only rule you can ever govern anything by: Truth coincides with truth, and truth is eternal. Untruth coincides with untruth, and there's your good and evil. The Bible had truth as well as untruth. It's the parts that don't seem to "fit" that you need to be sketchy about.

Answer 4

I'm a Roman Catholic and I know that as a conformed, baptized Roman Catholic, I am suppose to take the bible literally. I had a lot of friends in my conformation class, and I know that they, as well as I, don't take most of the stuff in the bible seriously. My family is very religious and if I turned on my religion it would probably kill my grandparents. I see some stories in the bible as good moral guides, but I don't think I've ever taken it literally even when I was young. I think that the reason people still take the bible literally is because they need something to believe in so badly, some source of inspiration, and these stories can be very uplifting. When you ask why not take the final step, I'm assuming you mean stop believing in religion. People don't take this step because 1) They used the bible as a moral code book, and 2) They still believe in a God, an Almighty, but they stay with their family traditions instead of branching out to religions that would suit their actual beliefs.

Answer 5

What you say is so true: I don"t think many People study the Bible/ When scripture is taken as symbolic or a Metaphor
it can be a slick slope. / This had to happen so that Satan is sending strong delusion/ Jesus went away physical ,flesh and Bone no Blood, the Life source was inside out.He is comming again Visable to the Eye, at end of Seven yr. Trib.
Will set up government from Jerusalem.Rule with a Rod of Iron,those Nations that are left (mortals) Those that have said Yes to Him now will Reign with Him.

Answer 6

The mythical and ahistorical character of much of what is in the Bible hasn't changed. What has changed is that today we have, on the one hand, powerful tools to demonstrate this (archaeology, biology, etc.), and on the other hand, we have fundamentalists who are persuaded that everything happened just as written because they are what Marcus Borg calls "fact fundamentalists". But in the Bible there are all sorts of literary genres. To mention one example you gave, the story of the Tower of Babel is political satire. The Israelites lived in a world dominated by Babylonian culture, so they poked fun at them. The Babylonians tried to build the world's largest ziggurat (a temple in step-pyramid form), and it was never completed. The person who created the story was poking fun: you claim to be the 'gate of God' but really your name means 'confusion'; you tried to build a tower that reached heaven, but God had to come down from heaven when he wanted to see it. It is more like a joke than anything else, and the dumb thing is to see people fighting over whether the details of a joke are true. It isn't that kind of literature!!!

Answer 7

Everything that you list there I do take literally, however I understand your question for those who do not. The Bible foretold that in the last days many would have a "form of Godly devotion" but prove false to it's power. These are persons like the ones you mention who try to twist the scriptures into what they want it to be instead of accepting it for what it is.

Answer 8

I just asked a very similar question and got some nasty responses. Just for asking a question. I think a lot of them hold so much stock in the bible because it is what they have been told to do by their parents and older generations. They are to scared to even think for a second that "god" "might not" exist. So they have to pounce and protect themselves.

I understand why they do it, I feel the same way when I need to protect my right to be agnostic. I do not want anyone telling me that my believe are wrong, but I also have logic and reason that I can verbalize behind mine.

Answer 9

The traditional approach to the Bible had levels or senses to it: literal(which included the literary and historic approaches) and the spiritual which could apply a allegorical/typological( as in fulfillment in Christ or the Church),anagogical(end things:death,judgement,heaven,hell)putting things in light of eternal significance, and moral( learn not only what to do,but what not to do or things like killing Canaanites means "killing "sins). Passages could have different meanings according to the different "senses" in which they were read

Answer 10

The BASIC truths in the Bible will NEVER change... Time frames, etc..are not meant literally... In Biblical times, specific numbers were used to denote large amounts.
Many of the events can be historically noted. I am sorry if you want it to be so literal that you can discard it...THAT my friend, just isn't happening.

Answer 11

Check your multiple vitamin bottle where it talks about all those minerals to maintain our body, Minerals come from old mother earth. So take another look before you through a precious book the bible away. It loaded full of wisdom.http://www.carm.org/doctrine/100truths.htm