Do you think the interpretation of the bible is one reason why Christianity is on the decline? Why or why not?

Question

Sorry I didn't protract the first time.
It's still the most practiced religion, but lately the group has been known for it's bad spotlight. I'm a christian, and I think it has something to do with how the scripture is interpreted: Whether one takes it literal, the opposite, whatever.

Maybe I should have said "Been getting negative opinions," than on the decline. That's what I meant by that. Sorry if I confused anyone.

As for interpreations: Any. Whether it's literal, whether one picks and chooses certain things they abide, et cetera... I really mean all of it that can be interpreted in various ways.

Answer 1

Our Lord founded a Church (Matthew 16:18-19), not a book, which was to be the pillar and ground of Truth (1 Timothy 3:15). We can know what this Church teaches by looking not only at Sacred Scripture, but into History and by reading what the earliest Christians have written, what those who've sat on the Chair of Peter have spoken consistently with Scripture and Tradition, and what they've solemnly defined. To believe that the Bible is our only source of Christian Truth is unbiblical and illogical.

During the Reformation, primarily for doctrinal reasons, Protestants removed seven books from the Old Testament: 1 and 2 Maccabees, Sirach, Wisdom, Baruch, Tobit, and Judith, and parts of two others, Daniel and Esther. They did so even though these books had been regarded as canonical since the beginning of Church history.

When examining the question of what books were originally included in the Old Testament canon, it is important to note that some of the books of the Bible have been known by more than one name. Sirach is also known as Ecclesiasticus, 1 and 2 Chronicles as 1 and 2 Paralipomenon, Ezra and Nehemiah as 1 and 2 Esdras, and 1 and 2 Samuel with 1 and 2 Kings as 1, 2, 3, and 4 Kings—that is, 1 and 2 Samuel are named 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Kings are named 3 and 4 Kings. The history and use of these designations is explained more fully in Scripture reference works.


"To get the full flavor of an herb, it must be pressed between the fingers, so it is the same with the Scriptures; the more familiar they become, the more they reveal their hidden treasures and yield their indescribable riches."-- St. John Chrysostom, A.D. 347-407



The Process of Lectio Divina
A VERY ANCIENT art, practiced at one time by all Christians, is the technique known as lectio divina - a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures which enables the Bible, the Word of God, to become a means of union with God. This ancient practice has been kept alive in the Christian monastic tradition. Together with the Liturgy and daily manual labor, time set aside in a special way for lectio divina enables us to discover in our daily life an underlying spiritual rhythm. Within this rhythm we discover an increasing ability to offer more of ourselves and our relationships to God, and to accept the embrace that God is continuously extending to us in the person of Jesus Christ.

Lectio - reading/listening
THE ART of lectio divina begins with cultivating the ability to listen deeply. When we read the Scriptures we should try to imitate the prophet Elijah. We should allow ourselves to become women and men who are able to listen for the still, small voice of God (I Kings 19:12); the "faint murmuring sound" which is God's word for us, God's voice touching our hearts. This gentle listening is an "attunement" to the presence of God in that special part of God's creation which is the Scriptures.

THE CRY of the prophets to ancient Israel was the joy-filled command to "Listen!" "Sh'ma Israel: Hear, O Israel!" In lectio divina we, too, heed that command and turn to the Scriptures, knowing that we must "hear" - listen- to the voice of God, which often speaks very softly. In order to hear someone speaking softly we must learn to be silent. We must learn to love silence. If we are constantly speaking or if we are surrounded with noise, we cannot hear gentle sounds. The practice of lectio divina, therefore, requires that we first quiet down in order to hear God's word to us. This is the first step of lectio divina, appropriately called lectio - reading.

THE READING or listening which is the first step in lectio divina is very different from the speed reading which modern Christians apply to newspapers, books and even to the Bible. Lectio is reverential listening; listening both in a spirit of silence and of awe. We are listening for the still, small voice of God that will speak to us personally - not loudly, but intimately. In lectio we read slowly, attentively, gently listening to hear a word or phrase that is God's word for us this day.

Meditation
ONCE WE have found a word or a passage in the Scriptures which speaks to us in a personal way, we must take it in and "ruminate" on it. The image of the ruminant animal quietly chewing its cud was used in antiquity as a symbol of the Christian pondering the Word of God. Christians have always seen a scriptural invitation to lectio divina in the example of the Virgin Mary "pondering in her heart" what she saw and heard of Christ (Luke 2:19). For us today these images are a reminder that we must take in the word - that is, memorize it - and while gently repeating it to ourselves, allow it to interact with our thoughts, our hopes, our memories, our desires. This is the second step or stage in lectio divina - meditation. Through meditation we allow God's word to become His word for us, a word that touches us and affects us at our deepest levels.

Prayer
THE THIRD step in lectio divina is prayer: prayer understood both as dialogue with God, that is, as loving conversation with the One who has invited us into an embrace; and as consecration, prayer as the priestly offering to God of those parts of ourselves that we have not previously believed God wants. In this consecration-prayer we allow the word that we have taken in and on which we are pondering to touch and change our deepest selves. Just as a priest consecrates the elements of bread and wine at the Eucharist, God invites us in lectio divina to hold up our most difficult and pain-filled experiences, and to gently recite over them the healing word or phrase God has given us in our lectio and meditation. In this prayer, this consecration-prayer, we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the Word of God.

Contemplation
FINALLY, WE simply rest in the presence of the One who has used the Scripture word as a means of inviting us to accept a transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded that there are moments in loving relationships when words are unnecessary. It is the same in our relationship with God. Wordless, quiet rest in the presence of the One who loves us has a name in the Christian tradition - contemplation. Once again we practice silence, letting go of our own words; this time simply enjoying the experience of being in the presence of God.




"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." -- St. Jerome, A.D. 340-420

Answer 2

True Christianity is pretty much dead. Today, most people who profess to be Christians are only superficial in this statement.

The ones who still adhere to something good and meaningful are few and have been around since the Bible was first made. I don't have numbers for them, so I don't know whether they're on the decline.

In terms of this fake Christianity, though... I think it's on the decline (if it really is, and I think it may be) because weak beliefs are constantly being bombarded with something stronger: facts. However, what you mention is also important. Once you start to interpret things in the Bible, an immense amount of human error is introduced. Nothing can be certain from that point on.

Edit: The idea that Christianity is gaining strength has more to do with the power that is falling in its hands than the number of its adherents. Christianity has always had a lot of power, but even though numbers are decreasing, that power is staying the same, if not rising. In the rest of the world, Christianity is certainly not particularly strong. Nothing like it is here in the United States.

Answer 3

No, I think it is because satan is working overtime to deceive. Look at how many websites you can go to now that will tell you how bad the bible is, how bad Christianity is, how fake God is( sorry God). It is true, though. That is why Christians must be on the alert about what we read. I recently got caught up in watching this new online movie and was told that it was for God and when I started watching it, realized that it was so blatantly anti-God that it was not funny. I watched some of it and quickly shut it off. Satan wants us to watch those things, he wants us to doubt. This is the end times dear friends, and it says in the bible that even people that once believed will start to turn away. Aren't we seeing that more and more these days? Stay on the alert!

Answer 4

There are many reasons why Christianity is on the wane. Christian principles call for self-sacrifice, love, humility, honesty, devotion, loyalty, commitment, unselfishness, faith and the list goes on. Are these things that we readily see in society today. You see another reason why the decline is that people do not like others telling them what to do, even God. They want to be a God unto themselves. They do not want to be made feel guilty by going against the Bible moral code so therefore its all to easy to say the Bible is a load of garbage (most people who say this are just parrotting the words of others, they have never really examined it themselves). Evolution is a good cop out cause it makes no-one accountable to God or anyone for that matter as you have to be tough if it's the survival of the fittest! This philosophy panders to our inborn selfishness and pride. Hypocrisy is also a huge reason for decline, and discouragement over the earth's problems. People want God to help us but they can't understand why he hasn't as yet, so they have given up. There are wonderful answers that provide insight and hope but it takes research, a listening ear and a pure heart to understand the deeper things of the Bible. Email me if I can be of any help to you.

Answer 5

I think its dogmatic persection of large sections of society and its inflexible and - in the eyes of most - indefensible moral code are a key part.

You are certainly right that it is in decline. Its true that even in the UK a majority of people polled (just) believe in God, but when asked whether they believed the key doctrines of Christianity the number falls dramatically. And when polled to see if they are active Christians (church goers) it is as low as 2% of the population and falling still.

This can only be good news for a world diseased by religion.

Churches near me have been turned into apartments, warehouses and a night club as they are no longer needed.

Answer 6

Not so sure it's the fact that it's interpreted that is the problem. Anything we read, including what you are reading right now as you read my words, is interpreted.

The problem, I think, is many do not understand the beauty behind all the different interpretations. Literature is meant to bring about diverse thoughts and experiences. That seems like a positive thing to me.

Matt

Answer 7

It's not on the decline. Whatever source you got that from, it was from someone who's only expressing wishful thinking.

Christians are not going anywhere just because some people call Christianity silly while saying every OTHER religion is perfectly alright.

Answer 8

I challenge the notion that Christianity is on the decline. I see many encouraging signs that Bible-believing Christianity is once again advancing forward like it hasn't in a long time.

For Christ's crown and covenant!

Answer 9

Christianity and other religions seem to celebrate ignorance. We have definate evidence that there is no God. Science is developing. I have read a book showing many reasons why religion is false. As an Atheist, I would be happy to go in depth on some reasons why Christianity is unbelievable in the eyes of many.

Answer 10

Well I don't know where you get the idea thats its on the decline, but interpretation definitely is a reason why people change religions only to get brainwashed by someone else

Answer 11

Not to be a jerk but rational thought probably has more to do with it, and not just Christianity but other religions as well. Use (interpret) the bible as a group of lessons not factual history and you'll do fine.