Why do many Christians say that some parts of the Bible are literal, while others are metaphoric or symbolic? Many Christians defend certain parts of the Old Testament where God’s words are questionable (i.e. his destroying of cities, telling humans to hate their parents, his favoritism shown towards men over women, etc.) by saying that they are not to be taken literally. Then, they explain what God really meant when he said these things. If these Christians are correct, how do they know when other parts of God’s word are to be taken literally? Or, is the entire Bible like a Bob Dylan song and entirely metaphoric? If this is the case, wouldn’t the only people who could take the real meaning of the metaphor be the highly intellectual? Or, are all of the Christians just tangled up in blue?
2007-08-30 06:09:13 · 19 answers · asked by Biggus Dickus 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is the biggest problem with the ever shifting metaphorical view of the Bible.
If the story of Creation is Metaphorical, who gets to determine if the doctrine of salvation through Christ is metaphorical?
If metaphor is used throughout the bible, then it doesn't take a huge leap to determine that it is just a book written to show people how to act, metaphorically speaking, and really has nothing to do with an afterlife or Heaven or Hell. After all they could be metaphores.
2007-08-30 06:19:12 · answer #1 · answered by ɹɐǝɟsuɐs Blessed Cheese Maker 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, He will help you understand the Bible. You must be able to not take a certain verse out of context when you read. There are so many false teachings due to people misinterpreting Scripture. I don't think that any Christian fully understands every single thing i n the Bible anyway.
2007-08-30 13:15:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's literally metaphoric. Or is that metaphorically literal?
The bible is not and was never meant to be a science book nor a history book. It's a book about God and God's creation, and about how that creation (us) is supposed to relate to God. Some parts of the bible certainly are historically correct. Other parts are stories, told to make a point. You have to read the bible as a whole, not take bits and pieces out of context.
Abe says, "Where do you want this killin' done?"
God says, "Out on highway 61."
2007-08-30 13:17:50 · answer #3 · answered by Stranger In The Night 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
First, there is no such thing as "Christians." Christianity is a diverse collection of religious traditions, most of which have only superficial similarities to the others. So, if you ask "Christians" any question, you are likely to get up to seven different answers (based on the seven primary divisions of Christianity).
As for the Bible, I follow the recommendations of scholars. There are scientists who study the Bible just like they study any other ancient document. They have documented the academic consensus of which parts of the Bible are meant to be taken literally, which are metaphor or allegory, which are commonly misunderstood or mistranslated, etc.
2007-08-30 13:16:11 · answer #4 · answered by NONAME 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Always take it literal. The allegoric, metaphoric will always be explained in some other place.
We are told to read the Bible
line upon line
precept upon precept
here a little and there a little.
Sometimes the metaphor is given in one book by one prophet and the literal explanation is in another book by even a different prophet.
The Bible is a beautiful, awesome, inspiring book and since it is inspired by God you will never read anything like it. You can study it all your life and still learn new things as the Holy Spirit teaches you.
2007-08-30 13:18:07 · answer #5 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
As an ex- (sort of) Christian I will tell you my view point. The Bible is a work of Art. It was not meant to be taken literally. I do believe God inspired the writing of the Bible but that it was meant as a work of colaborative work of art.
Christians all too often will take what they choose from the Bible and ignore the rest. They will ignore the factual inaccuracies in the Bible, yet tell us that the Bible is innerrant.
2007-08-30 13:15:47 · answer #6 · answered by Whishkey Bottom. 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are. Some people use the bible as means to justify their bigotry of people who live different lifestyles or if a parent wants to beat a child. It should be obvious that an "all loving" god would not condone these things.
I believe the bible is meant to inspire not be followed blindly. Even though the bible is said to be god's word, we must remember that it was written by men and men have limitations. The bible reflects that.
2007-08-30 13:18:13 · answer #7 · answered by alana 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Most of the Bible is metaphoric or symbolic. It's a monumental mistake to take it literally. Jesus himself taught by using parables. If we take the time and effort to discern the meaning of the Bible from a spiritual standpoint, it makes sense and is logical.
2007-08-30 13:17:36 · answer #8 · answered by monte54que 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
As a Christian, I say that there is some literal but the vast majority of the Bible is metaphoric, especially the Old Testament.
2007-08-30 13:13:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
OK...the 10 commandments "Do not murder" and stuff like that are literal..DON'T do those...
But in Genesis where it says "God said let there be light and there was" it wasn't just so simple...God is complex and so are His creations. In order to make the light he obviously had to make the sun and the other stars...but it doesn't say HOW He made the light, just that He died...
Or many other things like that in the bible where Jesus says one thing, like a story, when it's really just telling you that you have to do something...it's like "the moral of the story is not to steal"...
2007-08-30 13:13:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋