Should religious texts be interpreted metaphorically or literally?

Question

Would religion be better if the religious interpreted their texts metaphorically as opposed to literally?

Answer 1

Metaphorically. Look at the bind Creationists are in.

Answer 2

What reason is there to interpret texts metaphorically? And if so, there could be a dozen different ways to metaphorically interpret any given verse, right? Did a "day" in Genesis mean two second, five months, two millennia or three billion years?

All SORTS of sticky problems crop up...granted, there might have been a bit less wrongful killing throught the course of history if people had taken this track, but it seems a bit illogical to me...

Answer 3

non secular texts are frequently the two literal and allegorical. The Bible is packed with metaphors and symbolism yet is additionally considered as historic. some human beings take it too literal, the real which skill is on a deeper point. some take it as too metaphorical and picture it has no foundation in reality. The Bhagavad Gita includes issues no longer primary approximately in our international which includes elemental weapons, notwithstanding it quite is predicated on the historic conflict of Kurukshetra. If we've been to take the essence of what's taught as metaphors for our life we might have a deeper be responsive to-how of scriptures than we frequently do and greater human beings could persist with. the pupils disagree on the deeper meanings, each reader will could desire to be the mystic that interprets it for themselves.

Answer 4

They should be interpreted within their context.

It's hard for people (both religious and not) to understand, but the meaning is not held within a short, concise statement. Truth is much deeper.

When the Bible says that the promised land is a land flowing with milk and honey, is the Bible discredited because we know that milk and honey does not flow through the streets of Jerusalem? Sadly, some think so. I can't even count how many times on the R&S board that people point at the scripture where the Bible states "the four-corners of the earth" and laugh at how unscientific it is.

Yet, when the Bible says "Thou shalt not commit" - that does mean "Do not commit adultery".

Be it the Bible or anything else, everything should be read in context. Taking things out of context is intellectually lazy and disingenuous.

Answer 5

I think that the parts of scripture which were meant to be interpreted metaphorically should be interpreted metaphorically. And the parts of scripture which were meant to be interpreted literally should be interpreted literally.

Glad we got that cleared up!

Answer 6

I have to say metaphorically. Looking at the bible in a literal sense would be a great deal like reading Aesop's fables in a literal way. You are not intended to pick them apart and try and figure out if point for point that is how something would or did happen. You are intended to see the lesson it teachs and to in turn learn from it.

Answer 7

Usually it's one or the other - the entire Bible, for instance, cannot be interpreted metaphorically nor literally - it just doesn't make sense to do so. Parts of it are one and parts of it are the other.

Answer 8

It depends on whether the text was written to be interpreted literally or methaphorically.

A parable for instance was meant to be interpreted methaphorically. The 10 commandments--literally.

So context and substance should rule the method of interpretation.

Answer 9

depends........but i would think metaphorically,, or this verse from the bible would wipe out most of the world:
(the following is not for kids under the age of 10)

"Kill every male child and baby and kill every woman who is not a virgin. But save for yourself the virgin girls." (numbers 31:17-18)
"When...God gives (a city) into your hands, kill all the men in it...Don not leave alive anything that breathes." (Deuteronomy 20:10-17)
[the next one might actually be a prophecy for the last day, not a law]
"As for my enemies who do not want me (Jesus) to reign over them, bring them here and kill them in my presence." (ooh...this one gave me the chills.) (Luke 19:26-27)
"Do not think I (Jesus) have come to send peace on earth. I did not come to send peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10:34)


See how this contradicts with Christianity and Islam? How can this be the original bible? Go and get two differently published bibles. Go to the First Verse, and see how they are different? Go and buy two new bibles. See how many books are in one, and how many in the other.....they are different arent they? This cannot be god. This is Munkar, or the evil and bad ways.
We need to use Maroof in our life, or the right and good ways.

Answer 10

Religious texts should be mistranslated 3 or 4 times and then interpreted by a secret club of 50 year old virgins. That interpretation should be taken literally.

Answer 11

Both depending on weather you want a literal meaning or a metaphorical meaning. The Bible is flexible when it comes to interpretation but very specific when it comes to meaning.