Why do Evangelical Christians interpret the Bible so literally?

Question

I'm sick of radicals deciding what constitutes righteousness, and then trying to inflict their opinions upon the rest of society because they are ignorant enough to think that they are helping us with their scare tactics. Specifically, why do they read into every detail of the Bible like it is an absolute truth? It’s a document that’s thousands of years old, and should be read analytically just like any other historical text. It amazes me how people don’t understand that the Bible exists as a pillar of religion because of the teachings and messages woven into it metaphorically, not because of its storybook characteristics.

Think about what the messages of Christianity would be if interpreting the Bible literally theory was correct. I’m not just talking about clear metaphors like where a man lived inside a whale for days. But to accept the Bible as the “Word-for-Word of God” would accept injustices such as slavery and multiple wives. Are these teachings that evangelicals support?

Of course not. So there seems to be some hypocrisy here. Since we should all live by the Bible, we should not allow gay couples to marry as the evangelicals say since the the book is against this?
The Bible isn’t the answer to gay marriage or abortion. It was written thousands of years before these issues mattered. So let’s read it for the message behind the stories, not the minor details that they include.
And on that note, why do Evangelicals try inflict their opinions into what is supposed to be a neutral government/school system? Keep your teachings out of the laws. If gays outside your church want to get married, who are you to tell them that they shouldn't? Your opinion should have no bearing on how they live their life, just as my opinions shouldn’t stop you from practicing religion your way. And don't say I'm going to hell and will never appreciate the joys of "those who have been saved". I respect your beliefs, but you would be ignorant to tell me how to live my own life

I would love to see the links that "prove" the Bible's full validity if they exist. I am an avid reader and would love to examine them. You know, unless you're lying....

Ok we have links. Let's analyze:

" First, the scientific community is now "almost unanimous in affirming that the universe had a beginning. This is usually referred to in scientific terms as "The Big Bang Theory." Of course, this implies that someone or something brought the universe into existence. "

I’m not arguring against this. I believe that the “Big Bang” and creation theories can co-exists. But that wouldn’t be a literal Bible interpretation would it? Hate to say it, but the Big Bang theory and resulting life took place over MUCH longer than 7 days.

Here's another one:

“If animals of a given species mate and produce an abnormal offspring (i.e. a mutant), it also is sterile. Therefore, how could the macro evolutionary process advance? How could a "mutant" (i.e. advances in form) reproduce? It would first have to be fertile itself. It would have to find a sexually compatible mate who was also fertile….”

This premise is incorrect. We’ve seen mutant species that are not sterile, and the whole point of the evolution theory is that it takes place over such a long time that the mutations are so gradual that reproduction could still occur with the original species or even other species. It is because of this genetic capability that cross breeding has become possible. While the conditions and what not are artificial, the scientific compatibility is genuine under the correct circumstances.

OK Kenny, so since the Bible is so "absolute" on gays, it must also accept the practice of slavery too right?

However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)

When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again.... (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)

Your thoughts on these charming family values?

I understand you intentions decon, but read the above statements. DO you take those literally as well, or would you agree that we need to use some descretion and avoid complete ignorance. It's OK to think for yourself and question God and the Bible. That's what religion is all about.

I think the answer from “Forgive” demonstrates the ignorance that I am talking about perfectly. She is quick to profess support for each line in the Bible with blind faith. I’m not arguing against the Bible’s overall message here, but it is reckless faith such as this that leads to the intolerance you see from Evangelical Christians. They want to believe that God has told them every word of the Bible. DID GOD TELL YOU TO RAPE OR MURDER?

Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:12 NLT)

Lo, a day shall come for the Lord when the spoils shall be divided in your midst. And I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem for battle: the city shall be taken, houses plundered, women ravished [Rape]
(Zechariah 14:1-2 NAB)

"Then I heard the LORD say to the other men, "Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! Kill them all – old and young, girls and women and little children. (Ezekiel 9:5-7 NLT)

If you are one of those people who says each line of the Bible is the direct word of God and he wants you to follow every word of it, you support murder, rape, and abuse. End of story.

I have a hard time believing these hard core Christians are that cold-hearted. So please stop saying you believe each word of the Bible because you were told to.

Answer 1

This question is right on. Here's my favorite:


"Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods. In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the street and burn it. Put the entire town to the torch as a burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt. Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you. He will have compassion on you and make you a great nation, just as he solemnly promised your ancestors. "The LORD your God will be merciful only if you obey him and keep all the commands I am giving you today, doing what is pleasing to him." (Deuteronomy 13:13-19 NLT)

Sound like Iraq anyone……………….

Yep, God wants all of us nonbelievers dead, and the Bible quoters believe it.

Don't worry atheists. God may want you to burn to the death......But he loves you!

Ahhh can't get enough of religion

Answer 2

It IS God's word. God declared His preferences for monogamy and freedom in the New Testament.

And who says the story of Jonah is metaphor?

Seriously, I am not trying to shove my beliefs down your throat, you came to the Religion and Spirituality section AND asked about my beliefs, I did not corner you in a coffee shop and start preaching.

It is God's word, and I do take it literally. I could give you links that provide evidence supporting it, but why bother? You wouldn't read the information, because you are convinced that your way is right, and my way is wrong.

All of that said, I still pray for you and want you to know that Jesus loves you.

Okay, here are a few links, I will return with more. These ones show scientific support for a literal interpretation of the Genesis account of creation:


http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkxuHpWZHGKUAhB9XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTExcWNvamtuBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDOQRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkAwRsA1dTMQ--/SIG=11vpahrqq/EXP=1197995783/**http%3a//www.internet-grocer.net/creation.htm

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkxuHpWZHGKUAfB9XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTExZnBsOTUwBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNQRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkAwRsA1dTMQ--/SIG=12279ul0m/EXP=1197995783/**http%3a//www.bibleplus.org/creation/evidence.htm

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkxuHpWZHGKUAdB9XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTExY281YmEwBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkAwRsA1dTMQ--/SIG=1222maale/EXP=1197995783/**http%3a//www.creationevidence.org/cemframes.html

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkwkTx2RHi3UAkFtXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTExY281YmEwBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkAwRsA1dTMQ--/SIG=12nip56el/EXP=1197873299/**http%3a//www.earthage.org/youngearthev/evidence_for_a_young_earth.htm

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkkRGx2RHIVsAMzVXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTExNmthcDFsBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNARjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkAwRsA1dTMQ--/SIG=11n69ik6g/EXP=1197873350/**http%3a//www.bible.ca/tracks/fast.htm

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkkRGx2RHIVsAPTVXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTExcWNvamtuBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDOQRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkAwRsA1dTMQ--/SIG=11o8ra3d2/EXP=1197873350/**http%3a//www.nwcreation.net/young.html

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkkRGx2RHIVsAPzVXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyZ3YyZHJvBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMTAEY29sbwNzazEEdnRpZAMEbANXUzE-/SIG=12grk346f/EXP=1197873350/**http%3a//www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v20/i2/magnetic.asp

http://www.allaboutcreation.org/creation-evidence.htm

Here are some supporting Scripture in general:
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-abr/abr-a008.html
http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/ca.htm
http://www.absolutetruth.net/bible/page15.html
http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/arch-nt.html


Its also funny how you quoted the word "prove" when I did not say that. I said I could provide supporting EVIDENCE. Just as it is difficult to "prove" that life started randomly in a pool of goo some billions of years ago, it is difficult to prove it didn't. All any honest person can do scientifically is stack up evidence on either side.

If you read ALL the information, you will find there is a lot of evidence to support a young earth, 6000-10000 years old, also a lot of holes such as zero transitional fossils to support evolution.

However, I don't want you to think I am saying you MUST believe this, it is up to you, I am just providing the information you said you would read. I have more, but honestly if you try to read and follow every link on those sites, you will busy for quite a while. So I'll leave you to examine it.

And I'm sorry if some person at some time offended you by being too pushy, but don't assume that every evangelical will do do that.

And most of us would not oppose evolution in the schools, if these other evidences were also presented. They wouldn't have to be presented in the context of God or the Bible, just evidence presented that shows the earth may not be Billions of years old, and that there may some explanation other than evolution for the appearance of life. Some call it abrupt appearance if they don't want to mention a creator, somehow that science can not understand, life may have abruptly appeared.

Answer 3

Why do Evangelical Christians interpret the Bible so literally?
Answer: The Holy Bible says what it meant and meant what it said.
2 Peter 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

The "private interpretation" is commanding us not to try to interpret but take literally word for word. Only the Holy Ghost can lead a man to understand the Truth of the Holy Scriptures.

I'm sick of radicals deciding what constitutes righteousness, and then trying to inflict their opinions upon the rest of society because they are ignorant enough to think that they are helping us with their scare tactics.
Answer: Romans 1:22
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Romans 1:21-23 (King James Version)
21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Answer 4

Ignorance

Answer 5

Because they don't believe in personal revelation from God, which is how the Bible was created in the first place. (Ironic, isn't it.) So they scrutinize the scriptures and find verses that they can twist to fit their personal viewpoints. And suddenly it's God's will to send money to a televangelist or have sex with your neighbor's 12-year-old daughter...because it's all right there in the Bible! You just have to look hard enough. They don't need a personal code of morality, or even a regard for the law when they have the Bible to defend their actions.

Answer 6

God said it
I believe it

If you don't want to listen, then don't.....but don't expect us to stop presnting the Word to you. God commands us to go into all the world and preach the gosple to all who will listen. We can only present it to you, it's up to you to accept or not.\

As for your opinion of the gay marriage thing...The bible is the ABSOLUTE Word on that subject whether you agree or not. God spoke against it 1000's of years ago as you say , yet that law IS still pertinant today.
God's Word is forever, unyeilding, and unchanging..............MAN chooses to change the meaning..........Man cannot change what God has set as law not matter what Polically Correct misguided people think

Answer 7

I under stand how you feel. God's word is hard and hurts when we have to make sacrifices GOD word is true it is the inspired word of GOD. It takes as much faith to trust the written word of GOD as it does to have faith in GOD himself. That is why the Holy Spirit was poured out to all have been baptized in to his death.

1 Corinthians 2:13
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Acts 4:31
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 10:44
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

1 Thessalonians 1:5
because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

Answer 8

Did Cinderalla have a wicked stepmother? Did she have to do the chores of her evil and mean stepsisters? Did the glass slipper fit HER foot?

Were Hansel and Grethel brother and sister? Did they get lost in the woods? Did their wicked stepmother intend for them to? Did they leave a trail of breadcrumbs? Did they eventually find their way home to their father?

Was Dorothy taken from her home in a toranado? Did she meet interesting an unusual characters? Did she find her way back to Kansas?


The story says as much..................the only question is, really, do you believe the story?

If you do not believe the Bible, that is YOUR choice, your "right".........however I BELIEVE..................

the fact that it is thousands of years old, only strengthens its testimony!

my grandkids are no longer satisfied with Hansel and Grethel, or Cinderalla, they desire more "flash" and sound effects. The princess and the Pea bore them.......the Bible has stood the test of time and continues to do so.......

For those like yourself, who CHOOSE to live outside of biblical teachings, I will recognize that as your personal choice, belief and 'right' however, I WILL NOT CONCEDE that it is God's will.

I

Answer 9

Wow, the evangelicals are getting owned here

Answer 10

All of these literal Evangelicals and the above replies!!!!!!!!

See why they scare me so when they start meddling their fingers in our government and our way of life?