Biblical stories?

Question

I went to a Christian school as a child, but this question was always left unanswered in my mind. Do Christians believe in the biblical stories as true and completely nonfictional? Stories such as Noah's Ark or Ruth's loyalness, or Sampson's strength. Or do they consider these stories fiction, but take the lessons that are given within them?

I myself take the lessons from these fiction stories. I just want to get a good idea of what everyone else thinks.

Great to know! To each its own.

Answer 1

The majority of Christians believe what is believable, believe what is dogma (required), and interpret the rest as fiction. I would feel more comfortable if we all studied Biblical criticism as it is taught in seminaries.

Answer 2

Christians accept historical accounts like the ones that you listed as true. There is plenty of research showing that Noah's Ark has supporting evidence in science and history. Sampson's strength came upon him through the Spirit of God. Why wouldn't Ruth be a faithful follower of the God of Israel?

There are lessons to be learned from these stories but just because they are fantastic doesn't make them fiction. The Bible covers thousands of years, do you think that it should be filled with stories about people going to work and the market and humdrum stuff like that?

Answer 3

I also went to Catholic school and went to religious ed during high school. I'm much older now and read the Bible from the perspective of a more experienced reader.

Now, I think of the Bible as a sort of religious travel guide. The descriptions of a place are true, the visions of the authors are subjective. If you read the different authors of, say, the Nativity, you'll find the historic details are for the most part in agreement. The details (subjective) from each author are slightly different, which, of course, makes each worth reading.

I gain insight to my God in reading the Bible, and then subjectively decide to take from it what I will.

Answer 4

I believe they are to be taken "seriously, but not literally." That means there are profound truths held inside all these stories, more than even the simple moralisms of Aesop or folk tales. The stories were told and retold and eventually written down because they preserved some essential truth to the Jewish people and later to the Christian community. If we take them as mere historical accounts, we risk missing the fact that they have a larger tale to tell, a grander vision to unfold.

Peace to you.

Answer 5

I believe that every story from the Bible is true. Even though you believe them to be fiction, at least you are learning good lessons. This is still the work of the Holy Spirit, teaching you from the Bible.

Answer 6

I've always thought the story of Job was fiction. Or rather, it's a fable. I suspect the story of Genesis contains a lot of allegory, but the book of Genesis begins there and then eventually goes into history, and there doesn't seem to be any clear transition between the two.

Answer 7

I believe that those stories are completely true....
Although I do have to admit I have a hard time picturing what they look like so I have to picture them the way that I would imagine them today...Like Samson with his long hair would look kind of like a hippie. LOL anyway I believe that the bible is 100% accurate, and those were real stories with real people.

Answer 8

Since stories like Noah's flood were accomplished by acts of science by God. Modern science will over time as it advances prove these stories true and happened just the way the God Yahweh says they did.

Answer 9

Noah`s Ark is organic fiction. this is an attempt to describe variety and survival of species after a flood. A flood for which there is a few data on a constrained and strictly community scale,yet on no account a international flood. For the poorly knowledgeable, untraveled inhabitants of pre-history, the "international" grew to become into an exceedingly small place, a flood on the recent Orleans scale might have meant international catastrophe for such common human beings. Their international grew to become into small and ignorant. regarding the occupants of the fictional Ark, Lions, Tigers and so on, it is so absurdly laughable that any tries to communicate it are demeaning to technological awareness and those in touch interior the actuality of nature. it is as much as I care to function. something of your placed up appropriate to yeast cells starting to be elephants and goats isn't worth of communicate.

Answer 10

Born-again Christians know the "stories" are of actual events. If you don't agree, then don't agree. But don't try to call yourself a friend of God either if your heart says he's a liar.