When a christian says you need to be objective when interpreting the bible?

Question

Do they not realize that someone being truly objective would be forced to refute it?

Talking donkeys and other animals

Charismatic man claiming to be son of god to secure and apparently gets resurrected after death

An omnipresent god with narrowly defined rules on how to live life?

Kallan- I have been told about my need to be objective by a couple of christians recently. Found it surprising. Hence the question

Gui- I dont have faith in fairy tales. readily admitted. I do have faith in the human spirit, which your "god" does not

Ellen- yes but can you back up anything you say with facts and evidence? Or are you just talking out of your posterior?

Answer 1

no, they mean you need to set objectives in order to find back up in a foolish attempt to bolster thier groundless line of thought.

Answer 2

Don't knock it until you've studied it. Pretty good read - really good ideas.

Of course the entire Bible is filled with contradictions - and much allegory etc.etc.

But that's the idea of Faith and especially salvation. It is an individual thing. What brings salvation and strengthens your faith is what is right for you - but it will be entirely different for someone else.

OK and so much of this book was written by a largely illiterate populace during the bronze age - with absolutely no concept of the scientific theory... Look at the richness of these people's lives and the lessons you can learn from both testaments - simply because someone wrote the stories down. Really cool stuff there.

And the Bible has something for everyone at all times of his/her life- complete with sex manual - in the Song of Solomon (which ISN'T allegory, BTW)

Answer 3

You're forgetting the most important: God will always be the great mystery of all. Don't try to unveil Him you will never succeed. Just look into yourself and try another explanation for you to be, except God.
To try to understand the Bible you have to study the pretext and the context, it's not easy but it's wonderful when you're able to receive the spirit. That's why is so important to hear a good preacher that prepared himself through years and years.
Nobody has to follow the rules on how to live life as God's defined, He gave us the freedom, but not to live according to what he suggests, have it's own consequences. Also to live with Him has it's own gifts, and how great they are. Some ways are much more easy than others, it's up to us to decide. Do it by yourself and be happy. Any way you chose, He will be with you because He is love.
Good luck.

Answer 4

Hebrews 11
By Faith
1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

God didn't create the rules to be a "mean parent" He did it to protect us the same way a good earthly parent will provide boundaries for their children. We Christians didn't "check our brains at the door". Many many of us became Christians later in life after examining all the claims made by the Bible, having a personal encounter with God and deciding that this IS the truth. Just because you don't like some of the rules, don't mean they don't apply or are true. Sorry.

Answer 5

Looks like you are not being very subjective in your own interpretation of things.

Could such a God cause an animal appear to speak?

Was Jesus truly Charismatic? After all, very few people followed him. If anything, he would have been viewed as an itinerant preacher causing trouble in a small corner of the earth.

And narrow rules by how to live? Not hardly. Israel was given rather narrow rules, but no one else.

Looks like this is a classic example of being guilty of what you accuse others of.


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Answer 6

I've never heard a christian say that I needed to be objective when interpreting the bible.
They've always said that one needs the Holy Spirit to properly interpret it.

You are correct, however. There is no way to objectively look at that god and think he isn't a monster.

Answer 7

I think the point about being objective is that you need to see the text in regards to the time it was written. For example, Socrates talks openly about his gay relationship wih a Roman youth, but no one dismisses him as a homosexual pedophile becuse at the time it was trendy and acceptable. So with the Bible, you need to look at what is being said in terms of the times. For example, women in the Bible arent encouraged to have teach Christianity to men, and this is probably becuase women were usually uneducated and couldn't read in the first place - therefore they would make bad teachers and teach only what they had heard from other people (this is someone elses theory here, not mine!). They were also unlikely to teach in peace, because at the time most women were submissive to their husbands, and making them religious leaders would have caused uproar. So you have to read it in context, as with anything!

Answer 8

I don't understand the problem with talking donkeys. You are ready to accept the possibility that there is a God but you don't because of talking donkey?? Doesn't make sense to me. What would stop God from making a talking donkey?

You just don't have faith... admit it.

Answer 9

Being objective means taking what they can use to subjugate people today and reinforce their reasons for doing so tomorrow.

Answer 10

Many interpretations, many misinterpretations. The truth is somewhere between your interpretation and all others. It's personal.