Is the real problem with The Bible, inaccuracies or literal interpretation?

Question

Missing Books and faulty translations aside.

The Bible is a collection of parables and metaphors.

If one subscribes to taking everything in the Bible totally literally does that not remove the entire concept of "free will".

The" free will" to use ones our discernment and understanding to interpret the meaning of the Bible itself?

Answer 1

The real problem with the Bible is the underlying theology of inherent human debt to the creator based upon his redemption of us from the sinful taint of a world he created. I agree that part of the problem is that individuals - who all see things a little differently - seem to eventually believe that they've finally hit upon the ONE GREAT TRUTH (TM) within the Bible. Part of the problem is that people are taking parable and metaphor and trying to make it concretely true.

But the main issue is that a lot of the essential parable and metaphor is bad from the start.

Lazarus

Answer 2

You must consider that the Bible was thrown together by a bunch of people who believed the world was flat. so they weren't smart enough to put in the stuff that may have tought the people necessary lessons in the future, they left open a lot of loose ends like the phrase "other sheep I have and them too I must visit" this phrase was investigated and was concluded that the 12 tribes of isreal each had there own book the bible was 1 of 12 and now the Book of mormon from the church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints is about the tribe of Joseph while the bible is about the tribe of judah. Imagine a map of the world divided into 12 sections, the scattering of the 12 tribes so each area has there own book they just need to be found by the prophets of our day, but some of the modern prophets have said why should we bring forth another book when the people do not read the books they already have? So in closing the Bible can not be fully understood with out the aid of the other books to fill in the blanks.

Answer 3

There's a lot truth in that. People are being forced to think for themselves with all the mis-interpretations. The whole point of the Bible is to train us to think. "Seek and ye shall find." "Try all things, hold fast to what is fine." "And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven:" And "Let us search and try our ways." "Know the truth and the truth will set you free." "With all your wisdom gain understanding." "Be wise as the serpent and gentle as a dove." And for an Eastern flair, "Spirit of truth will lead you into all truth, even the deep things of God." I would think a spirit of truth would be an unbiased look at the evidence or the scientific method. You shouldn't have to understand it, evangelists should explain it right. The other 90% of the brain, accessed with the intuition, understands it quite well. Actually the NT said that there is no difference in rights for women in saying that their is no distinction between slave, free, men or women. So it's a lot a matter of discretion and the rules for now do have a different flavor. The different understanding comes when it is time for it. Flexibility in rigidity or if you prefer you may think of it as inconsistency. Your preference seems to decide how you see it. Maybe we're not ready. "When the student is ready the teacher appears." It's like a tutor, as you get older you understand what was meant, but it served in your youth. Prophecy also had generality, leaving room for manuvering as situations required, not to tie ones hands. Truly a living book or "fickle, you pays your money, you takes your choice." I rather think that life is made up of paradoxes, seeming contradictions and wisdom makes the difference when you have it. The Bible was called a tutor leading up to God, not replacing him or the spirit. Isn't a spirit an attitude, like love, vague and requiring discretion. First rules, but eventually maturity and then the ability to use discretion. I rather think that we are still in mixed emotional stages causing confusion of our own making. Blame it on our progamming from youth so no one has to be the blame. The injunction is "rightly dividing the truth." We may be able to do that better when we grow up. I think we're still more animal than human. That's a fact the infomation age is showing, "for all to see." I think that's the problem..

Answer 4

I would say the problem a lot of people run into with the Bible is trying to make it without error, and trying to insist it can be taken literally. It's not just a collection of parables and metaphors either. It is a collection of writings of all kinds. History, geneaology, poetry, worship songs, letters, and the writings of the prophets. It's not a simple book and it does require study and reason in our approach to interpreting it.

Answer 5

The problem with the Bible is that most of it is literal. People choose to "interpret" it as parables, metaphors, and contextually based on what parts of the Bible they personally believe should be literal, parable, metaphor, or contextual.

Take two separate issues and the New Testament:

1 Cor 6:9-10: Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor practicing homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (NIV)

This is one of the New Testament basis for vilifying homosexuality. This passage is to be taken literally because homosexuality = bad.

1 Tim 2:11-15 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (NIV)

This is a New Testament passage that must be taken in context of the times because women's rights = good.

The real problem with the Bible is that most of it can be taken literally, but it's inconvenient to do so. Let's narrow that down even further. The real problem with the New Testament is that most of it can be taken literally, but it's inconvenient to do so. Instead, people pick and choose what's a metaphor or what's "historical context" in order to satisfy both their own sense of the way things should be and their own sense of following god's law. Neither of those passages are parables. Neither of them are metaphors. Both of them are historical context. One of them is well translated (the one about women) and on of them is a really iffy translation that's in academic debate and probably always will be (the one about homosexuality).

This is not what Christians want to hear, naturally. They don't want to question the very basis of their faith. It's easier to "interpret" it. How well would Christianity survive in modern times if women were told to sit down, shut up, and be submissive to their husbands? It wouldn't. 100 years ago, a woman would never dream of preaching. She wouldn't be permitted to because the Bible clearly states women are to be submissive. What changed? The Bible? The historical context? No, it didn't. That passage was correct until the Sexual Revolution in the 1970s and the freedoms and rights women came to expect afterwards. Now, that passage is not correct, it's "context." Why did it suddenly, and yes, you can consider the last two decades in the face of two millenia "suddenly" stop being literal and start being contextual? The answer: it didn't. It just quit being convenient when interpreted literally.

So there's the real problem with the Bible. People don't like what it says, so they "interpret" it to suit themselves.

Answer 6

The real problem is not the bible but the ignorance of the people who interperate it, often it is done with jaded lenses that have been influenced by outside factors. The worst problem I beleive with the bible is when it is taken literaly and viewed as accurate historicaly and scientificaly. You are correct in saying it is a collection of metaphors, parables but I would like to add a third descriptal word and that is" fables".

Answer 7

There are no inaccuracies in the Bible.There are parts of the Bible that need to be taken literally like the creation story. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Gen 1:1
Most of the Bible should be taken literally. There are also parts when the author is definately using allegory or metaphor and shopuld be taken as such ...for instance..Mark 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Most importantly pray that God would give you wisdom to understand his word.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James 1:5

Answer 8

Methinks. how can we possibly deal with the issues of inaccuracies if we cant understand intrepretations of the Bible? and literal intrepretations may come as inaccurate as per "free will" concerns us.

i think the problem is with us, we dont want to understand.
many times in the bible specially of book of parables. it doesnt need explanation as to why we have this kind of issues. all the question why and how and what.

it was stated in the bible that we were given free will, decide and do whatever we want. God Himself made us into his own image thereby it may sound absurb but take granted of our intellectual minds sure is we are Gods properties then and as owner He can do whatever pleases him to as what we do with our robot toys, go right and it goes right turn left and goes left. indeed he can also do the thing... he can command us to worship him 24/7 to eternity. that is so easy if your a god then.

but still he gave us free will in the end afterall of that things been said and done. he sent his son only to remind us that he exists and was the one who created us.

and further as free will concerns isnt it enough of what we see in this world and the history that was made?. all the people doing their own thing, living, breathing and everything

Answer 9

The less literally it's taken, the less I have a problem with it. Those who read it figuratively don't oppose science based upon Biblical interpretation, for instance.
I still disagree with most of the figurative readings, mind you, and find a lot of the moral lessons objectionable on any level. But those who take it figuratively are much more accepting of other interpretations.
As for free will and literalness, I can't agree. Let's say that I tell my kid to clean his room. He has the free will to choose whether to do so whether he takes it literally (pick up the clothes and half eaten food from the floor of the room in my house designated as his bedroom) or figuratively (rearrange his life and mental state to a more orderly condition.) I haven't taken away his free will if I tell him something specifically, he still has the choice of whether or not to do it. (He also doesn't have to have faith that I exist in order to retain free will. He can have seen me and my birth certificate and still have free will. Similarly, God needn't hide in order to preserve the existence of free will.)

Answer 10

Literal interpretation.
The Bible is full of valuable information once you learn how to read it. Fortunately, scholars have done a very good job of getting down to the original intent of Scripture - too bad they are the only ones who seem interested in doing so.
Incidentally, the modern literal interpretation of the Bible dates to the 16th century. Ancient and Medieval commentators almost always reverted to an allegorical understanding of Scripture.