Let me get this straight: Many religious people say, don't take the Bible literally. So, it's fiction, a lie?

Answer 1

Just because some say don't take the Bible literally doesn't make it so. The Bible is the Word of God and I take it all literally. If you deny part, you may as well deny all.

Answer 2

No it is not necessarily fiction or a lie. I have a question for you have you ever read the bible all the way through? Well I have done it twice myself. The bible will give you the same story in more that one book. Plus you have to look at when it was written. The meanings of some words were different back then. For example in history we had the Gay 90's. Today the first thing that comes to your mind is what? Well the Gay 90's meant something totally different. Another example is today a female that has never had intercourse is considered a virgin, right? Back during the time of Mary it meant something totally different. Back then it meant that a female had not had a child yet. That is one of the reason's they say don't take it literally.

Answer 3

I am one of those 'religious people' who don't take everything in the Bible literally. That doesn't mean its fiction or a lie, just that not everything should be interpreted in a literal sense.

For example Jesus tells us that if our right eye causes us to sin we should pluck it out! likewise with our hand! Do you really think that Jesus wants a bunch of blind people with no hands as followers? Isn't it more likely he was using exaggeration and metaphoric speech in order to make his point that God detests sin?

In Exodus 19 God says to the Israelites that he carried them out of slavery in Egypt 'on eagles wings' was this literal? No, again the speach is metaphorical.

We are told that the earth is Gods foot stool, that the earth is on pillars, and plenty of other things that need not and should not be interpreted literally.

The key example is Genesis 1. When you examine this in the original Hebrew, it is clear that this is a poetic narrative, not a literal account of creation. It is there to convey - through poetry- that God is the creator and source of all things.

We find this all throughout the Bible, where allegory and exaggeration is used to convey a message, or a truth about God.

God bless!

Answer 4

Just because somebody says something doesn't automatically make it true. I'd rather read the Bible and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help me understand what is being said. Why base your eternal soul on what "many religious people" might say?? Find out for yourself.

But, I think what is meant by what you are referring to is that the Bible contains many things that could be metaphors or symbols. Jesus taught in parables, meaning they were stories told to teach something. In that sense, those events didn't actually happen. It's up to you to listen to the Holy Spirit and find out what's what.

Answer 5

Jesus himself used parables. The Bible has a lot of symbolism. In the Bible if it says we should be like sheep, with Jesus as the shepherd, it doesnt mean we should start getting on all fours and chewing on the grass.

You also have to figure in translation and language. If I said oh you are so bad. What do I mean? Well I could mean you are a terrible person. Or it could mean, in slang, that you are so cool. You have to look at the Bible in the context it was written, which was thousands of years ago in a totally diff culture and diff language.

Answer 6

Just because you don't take something literally, doesn't mean what it says is a lie. If everything anyone ever said was taken as literal, where would the sarcasm be. If you were to go to a gallery, and look at the paintings literally, you would see them as paint on a canvas and nothing more.

Answer 7

The Bible is the word of God. Take it literally. People get too caught up in the Mosaic laws and forget that all the laws are encompassed by the 2 commandemnts Jesus had for us:
1. Love God with all your heart
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

If we follow these two, we won't violate any of the Law. However, we cannot live our earthly life perfectly, but God is faithful and just t forgive us our sins, all we have to do is confess them to HIM, and He will forgive us.

So again it's literal. Some parts are figurative, like the Parables, because they are presented as figurative in context.

Answer 8

It's an epoch discovery of God through the story of the Jews until the time of Jesus. The epoch discovery of God grows through Jesus and opens to all people of the world.

It is not fiction nor is it a lie. In the crafting of the history of it's tribes and the stories of its people it is the truth without being literal.

It is the story of wars, retribution, discovery of God, the almost continous need for reconciliation and the revelation of our oneness.

Answer 9

I think they use the words allegory, metaphor, fable, parable, moral story, etc. So the bible is not literally true, but illustrative of moral precepts that define the Christian faith.

Of course, I don't buy that crap. The bible was originally made to be taken literally. How does a 6-day creation or laws about stoning to death illustrate a moral precept? It's cherry picking and realizing that the literal bible is not the best guide for modern living. Burned any whores to death lately? (Leviticus)

Answer 10

I don't know what Religious people say. They can be a pain sometime. Maybe it is another religion, other than Christianity.

Religion, as in 'the Pharisees' were, are a stench on the nostrils of God. And Jesus and John the Baptist did not mince their words when talking to these people.

Christian, believe the Bible is true. No one can say they are a Christian, and not believe the Bible. Who are these people? what group do they belong to? Can you do another post in Seniors? Explaining what group they are.?