How literally do you actually take the bible?

I take the bible neither literally nor seriously.

It is a document that has been edited and re-edited over the centuries to support the political aspirations of whatever group decided it was the one true church.

While it is true that there are some wonderful sound bites in parts of the bible, the contortions that those who claim the bible it literally true are quite amusing to watch as they try to explain away the parts of the bible that they consider not quite as word of god-ish (you know, putting people to death who wear garments of mixed fabrics) while following the parts that are more more word of god-ish.

The most productive approach to reading the bible that I have found is to regard it as a collection of writings where honest men, in some places, have tried to express the results of their spiritual quest. There are passages of great insight, diamonds amidst the coal -- but you have to be of an open mind to accept winnow out those nuggets, especially if they run contrary to your own beliefs,

reply to post by undo

No, that is not so. I'm simply trying to find out if christians take the bible literally. It is obvious that you have your own interpretation, and a good point as well, when you mention that the original text should be checked. The point is that most people don't have the original hebrew and greek testaments, but the translations. My question is meant for the 'every day christian', if there is such a thing.
I guess your answer to my original question would be something like, no not exactly?

But their is only one.

How can you be sure of this?

reply to post by IDK88


interesting that you should mention that, as i tend to view the ELOHIYM of the old testament as more than one god and also the EL of the old testament, who is yawheh/jehovah. i think either the translators somewhere down the line, assumed it was only referring to yahweh and the assumption lead to things like saying god confused the languages of the people. i see at least two different elohiym in the old testament and they are both assumed to be the same god.

reply to post by XXXN3O

I'm sorry, I don't understand your question.

reply to post by DarknessFollows


You said that you were always questioning.

Who were you asking the questions too?

Theres your answer if you take time to understand.

reply to post by DarknessFollows


well i suppose someone who interpreted it as symbollic or poetic only, might think i'm a literalist on most topics. however, i don't think a mythical dragon with 7 heads rises up out of the sea in revelation, but i do think it's a very symbolic reference to some hefty world powers and a few more indepth pieces of data relating to technology, astronomy and so on. so in that sense, i'm not literal, but i also don't think it's all a mystery book about the human body, so in that sense, i'm literal.

etc.

there's no hard and fast numbers when it comes to bible interpretation. even within the same sect of christianity you can have several personal viewpoints on what it means and how it applies to the individual, the family, the community, the country, the world and even the universe.

reply to post by XXXN3O

I gues I'm a little sloow...
I have had discussions with my parents, fellow christians of all sorts, though mostly evangelical, and local vicars (not sure if that is the right translation, but a preacher, in any case)
In the end they got tired with me because I was always asking these awkward questions.

reply to post by DarknessFollows


100% certainty...all the others who have or are claiming to be God are just people in robes who know the nature of the character Adam and have mastered to some degree manipulation of him and his household, thus have been able to exalt themselves to high places; even to the point of calling themselves God.

They are not God, however, but parasites who usurp the authority and power of the one God and pass it off as their own. To keep the very real Truth covered...they have started a War on Terror...because when Adam and his wife are free and the Son is raised to know his Father...Terror will surely grip the World.

Like I said...the books are somewhat clever, and Tamerlane and Charlemagne are versions of a fallen Adam, study them closely...when they don't fornicate with the whore, i.e. the Pope and/or Mullah and/or Rabbi, they will in FACT bring forth the world of one True God and then there will no longer be any question regrading this matter.

reply to post by undo


Revelation explicitly states that God has a seven fold nature, but he is One...perhaps men's inability to see more than just their own perspective is the cause of the confusion...not God.

Originally posted by DarknessFollows
reply to post by XXXN3O

 

I gues I'm a little sloow...
I have had discussions with my parents, fellow christians of all sorts, though mostly evangelical, and local vicars (not sure if that is the right translation, but a preacher, in any case)
In the end they got tired with me because I was always asking these awkward questions.

What do all those people have in common? They are human beings of course and what makes you think they have all the answers that you seek?

"Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:"
"8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

Pray to god and you will get your answer.

I was answered and faced the same problems you did.

People will always try and answer the hardest questions, its your choice if you want to listen to it.

Pray to god and you will get your answer.

Been there, done that. I prayed until my knees were sour, so to speak. But that was years ago.You found your answers one way, I found them on a different path. But that's offtopic.

reply to post by DarknessFollows


Patience is a virtue.

You will get your answer.

Its your choice whether you want to accept it or not.

Learning is hard and god is the best teacher.

Your hitting a brick wall for a reason.

a literal thought about god on the above subject. it says in the bible that he stretched out his arms and scattered the stars. my son at that point said:

"wouldn't it be freaky if we are a dot on some gigantic guy's back."



it helps to get out of your element for a moment, just long enough to get perspective.

Correction: I used to hit a brick wall.

There is a lot of good information in Bible, so I would say you take something for what it is worth.
The Bible is somewhat corrupted, books of have been left out, things have changed in the translation, things have been added.
Back in the day it was book of infomation, to a backward unknowing people.
Even today if you would read the Bible and understood what was being said it would surely be a book of wisdom.
The bible is writen on several different levels, I myself barely can get gist of these different levels.
There are parts of Bible that are way out there, but still ring true in todays world.
I take the Bible for what it is worth, a good book, God inspired, maybe by fact everything is inspired by God ( Creator ).
Something to read and understand in your own way, but in reading, I am sure would help in someones personal growth.
I have yet to read entire book but do take comfort in reading, though some see it as strange, when they see me reading Bible, would be much better and assuring if they saw me reading some sex, murder, sicko book.


[edit on 11-9-2009 by googolplex]

reply to post by DarknessFollows


No, I take it not just literally but figuratively also. Everything in context. The Bible has many layers to take it just literally or just figureativly still limits us. I don't use it as a weapon against others but as a light to show my own path.

reply to post by DarknessFollows


when trying to describe complex subjects like the universe, hindus rely on the symbolism of the turtle holding up the earth on its back. when asked, what is holding up the turtle, they say another turtle, and when asked what is holding up that turtle, they say, it's turtles all the way. now i find some real wisdom in that thought process after considering how science keeps finding smaller and smaller particles within our bodies and larger and larger borders of our universe. our understanding keeps getting smaller and larger until... it's turtles all the way. we are so much more complex, that i sincerely doubt if god were to explain it all to us right now, that our brains could even handle the massive amounts of data. we arrive at our conclusions, slowly, one turtle at a time and one quark at a time. we throw out what disagrees with us and keep what we find relevant, which may result in removing some turtles from the stack but be assured, it's relevant.

as some say "i don't believe in coincedence."

The bible is not even an accurate historical book, there are contradictions riddled through it. There is absolutely no evidence to back up the majority of claims, I agree with an earlier post, I believe it as much as a fable, it has some good stories and morals but that's as far as it goes.

I did not always have that view, I was a practicing catholic raised in a catholic family and always went to church. I even served on the alter. However, denying ignorance I started to ask questions and received no credible or even believable answers.

Peace

I disagree with you here. Doesn't jesus himself say: "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Doesn't that count for all the laws?

He is talking about prophecy there, the entire written scripture back then was referred to as "the law" even the Psalms.

Yes I take the bible literally. The thing is, to really understand it you have to read if straight through from beginning to end.

As I said, I was brought up with the idea that the bible is the actual, literal will of god, and that every word in it is the truth. As a child I already wondered why my gay uncle that shared an apartment with his boyfriend, wasn't stoned to death, then. Apparently I was being a little bit too literal on that one!

All that changed when Jesus came. Before He came there was only one way to be "saved" and that was by obeying ALL the laws. Impossible! It couldn't be done. Hence animal sacrifices. Jesus' death and resurrection eliminated that.
If you take a look at the old laws, many of them, in fact most of them were for health reasons. People of that time had no understanding of science or medicine. They were to protect their health and promote reproduction.
Take a look at the one that says when a woman starts her period she is to be shut out for 7 days and then bathe for 3 days following. It helped with hygienic practices, and when a woman would come back to her husband it would be on her most fertile day.
As far as homosexuality goes, I think the same applied and that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was more about the fact that they tried to rape the angels not so much because of the homosexual practices.

Look, I understand where you are coming from. I was very much the same until 7 months ago. I had been to alot of churches and it was all B.S. once I was old enough to make up my own mind. I finally realized it wasn't because of what the bible said, but because of what people TOLD me the bible said.
After 4 years of a friend begging me to go to church with her, I finally gave in. It was different than any church I had ever been to. Not only was the pastor talking about government conspiracies, which got me listening, he said, "If you ever hear me taking what I want out of this book and leaving out what I don't like, or manipulate the word for my own personal agenda I expect you to call me out on it." I was floored.
A lot of people will take this as sacrilegious but there is a reason people are drawn to magic. That's because people don't recognize the power given to us by the Holy Ghost. In a way it is "magic". Raising people from the dead, healing, parting bodies of water, ect. If thats not "magic" then I don't know what is. Jesus said with the power of the Holy Ghost we would be able to do all that he did and more, the main requirement is faith. We doubt.
OK, sorry I went off topic. Yes, I take it literal, but as I said you have to read it straight through. Don't take mans word for it, find out for your self.