Why is not taking the Bible literally mean you aren't a Christian?

Question

Ok, so I have read many questions discussing why the Bible should be taken literally and such. But why does not taking the Bible word for word literally make someone a non-Christian? I believe that Jesus is real, and God is real, but do I think Jonah was swallowed by a whale, into its stomach only to live? No. What is wrong with the idea that maybe it was told as a story to teach, but not really true? The Bible is a compilation of stories written by many people throughout that time period, of which some contain similar stories told differently. I Just don't understand why a non-literal translation of the Bible makes someone a non-Christian.

After reading several responses, wanted to add this in. I don't mean to take a different interpretation such as changing the Ten Commandments or anything. I'm talking about the stories that just seem unbelievable. I do believe Jesus died for my sins, and was a great man who did extraordinary things while here on Earth.

An answer near the bottom intrigued me (Pa G) Notice it is "inspired". I never said I don't believe the people who wrote the stories weren't inspired by a greater good. But was each person present at each written story? No. Bad example, but look at Native American stories that are passed down. Who is to say that these stories weren't exaggerated to better prove a point or show meaning? I believe Jesus died and rose again, but in the form of a spirit. There are just several things I can't ever decide on in the Bible, and I really appreciate everyone for their answers. I'm just trying to find where my thinking fits...

Answer 1

You don't have to take the Bible literally to be a Christian. There are many Christian denominations (including my own) that don't insist that their members have to be literalists. That's mostly a Fundamentalist approach to Scripture.

Answer 2

Because the bible says "All scripture is inspired by the holy spirit(God)" and the simple fact that they aren't just stories. They really happened.
I became a christian when I was 16 and I've never thought those stories were fiction.
If God is all powerful why shouldn't they be real? Jesus said we have to have faith as that of a child. If they are just stories then the bible is very misleading as nowhere does it say they are stories.
They are true accounts. Do you believe that Jesus died and rose again? If you don't believe that then you aren't a Christian as that is fundamental. If you do belive it then why don't you belive the other stuff?

and by the way Pathofreason we don't belive that revalation is Literal. Please get your facts right before making such comments

Answer 3

I think it's obvious that many Old Testament stories aren't meant to be taken literally...not because the authors were feeble-minded or deceitful, mind you, but because of simple human errors like mistranslation, exaggeration and editing. For example, the Bible states that the great flood of Noah destroyed every person on earth except for Noah's family (eight people in all). But a literal reading of the Bible states that Abraham was born less than 300 years later...and when Abraham and his wife travel under God's orders, they encounter the Egyptians, pharaoh, princes and all! Well, where did the Egyptians come from? The four women on the ark must have been fertile indeed...not only did they replenish their own race in less than 300 years, but they managed to start another entire civilization as well. All this illustrates is that human beings are flawed...which, to my mind, doesn't contradict the Bible's teachings at all.

Answer 4

To me, I guess the idea of whether the bible should be taken literally depends on whether you think the person who wrote the story thought it was literal truth. After all, if the person who wrote the story of Jonah and the whale thought that it was just a parable, then of course it would be silly to assume that it must be interpreted literally.

My personal opinion is that the people who wrote those outlandish stories in the bible actually thought they were true. People *believed* in mythological happenings like that back in the day; they believed in monsters, thought the earth was flat, believed in curses and omens and spirits and demons and whatnot.

So...from my point of view, if the person who wrote the story thought the story was true, and the bible's supposed to be the divinely inspired word of God...then I think it's perfectly reasonable to assume that one must take the bible literally in order to be a true Christian.

I'm not a Christian and I don't believe a lot of stuff in the bible, so it doesn't make no nevermind to me...just my two cents' worth...

Answer 5

it relatively is not significant in case you're Christian, Hindu, agnostic, or notwithstanding -- it would not exchange what the Bible is or what it says. The Bible is virtually all poetry, and poetry is all approximately imagery and figurative language. that does no longer mean that each and all and sundry of that's figurative. yet on no account all of that's literal. In Genesis, while it says "interior the initiating, God created the Heavens and the earth..." and we've the completed creation tale, the Bible speaks of six days (on the 1st day...on the 2d day.... and on the seventh day He rested). human beings circulate returned and forth, and debate approximately whether or no longer it surely took six days. yet it relatively is not the element of the tale! the completed Christian faith isn't hinged on figurative vs literal language.

Answer 6

Some of the Bible is literal and some is symbolic.
It is NOT all one way or the other.

Literal ;
(Isaiah 37:36) And the angel of Jehovah proceeded to go forth and strike down a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the As·syr′i·ans. When people rose up early in the morning, why, there all of them were dead carcasses.

Symbolic;
(Revelation 9:10) Also, they have tails and stings like scorpions; and in their tails is their authority to hurt the men five months.

Commonsense tells us that these are not literal scorpions. They are a group of people who are telling the world the truth about Almighty God and his son, and are termed scorpions because their message is not accepted kindly and is like a sting to those who will not listen. In earlier verses, it is stated that the message will not literally kill anyone ..verse 5... but will sting and those men, people, will be tormented by the message, so much so that they wish they would die...but they do not.
The five months mentioned refers to the life span of the locust/scorpion/person] who is obliged to keep on with dispensing this information for the duration of their lives. It is a total lifespan.
The only religious group who fits this description is the J.W's

Answer 7

I always thought it was safe to assume that when it is an allegory, parable, story, etc it will state that it is. If it doesn't state it, how would you know what, if anything is literal or not. Just my take on it. Gods peace to you :)

BTW: Being a Christian isnt the exact way you read the bible. It is having a complete and full relationship with Jesus Christ, knowledge that He died for your sins and that He is the way to the Father in Heaven. I wouldnt sweat interpretation for everything.

Answer 8

Because belief is completely subjective and doesn't have to refer to evidence or facts or any other discipline. Unlike Scientific knowledge which is constantly referred to peer review and tested by experiment to see if actually works and by technology to show that it always works.

Those that believe often believe out of need. The most needy, are often those that are scared or paranoid. In order to seek reassurance they ask others if they believe also, and pressurise them into believing as they do. As they get more paranoid, their tests become more rigorous, and the outward signs of faith more demanding and difficult, the rules more difficult to follow. After this comes oppression and "holy war" the killing and torture of unbelievers in order to save them.

As a general rule the more a religious people feel threatened the more exclusive they become. Try these ideas on the world situation and see if the pattern fits the facts. Which groups have the oddest practice? Do they feel threatened? Are they under pressure?

Answer 9

First, Jonah was not swallowed by a whale. the Bible said He was swallowed by a BIG FISH... there is a big difference. (^-^)You see, Bible is not a compilation of mere stories. You must know that it is a compilation of Books written by more than 40 writers (prophets, apostles, etc) but has a single Author (God Himself). given that fact, there is no single contradiction that one may find in it. Aside from this, it is known as the Word of God. merely reading this book will not make the reader a christian. The reader must apply in his life what it teaches. Christianity is not a religion. it's an established relationship between man and God. Hope this helps.

Answer 10

This question keeps popping up, time and again. It is important for everyone to understand that those Christians who maintain that the Bible must be taken literally are in the MINORITY. They are called fundamentalists. Most of the mainstream Churches - Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant do not understand the bible in this way. Another thing that is important to note is the role of Sacred Tradition. Not everything that Christians believe is written in the Bible. In the Catholic Church, Scripture and Sacred Tradition hold equal weight. The Bible is but ONE source of revelation.

VB8