The Bible: Literal or Figurative

Is the Bible supposed to be taken as literal truth or is it a book of applicable moral suggestions?The Bible was written by fallible men and it is the "inspired" word of God which makes it subject to error through the translation from "above", to the mind of man, to paper... So, how does one deal with that?From the "world view" some would say that the book of Genesis contradicts modern scientific theory. Therefore, they would say the Bible has to be figurative does it not? Yes, men are fallible but why would God let fallible men write erroneous details if he knew they would put it in (God being omniscient is assumed)? Such is my understanding. From the world point of view does an "erroneous" book "weed out" people of lesser faith? Are the holy warriors in Revelation who stay on earth to fight the last apocalyptic battles the most "hard-headed" christians? (the rest disappearing for whatever reason)Continuing along that assumption, if the Bible is meant to be figurative, then what does that imply about Jesus and his acts? For that matter what does it imply about any power Jesus claims to have? Are they stories too? Why and how can we believe he truely is the son of God?Such as I understand, certain credibilities become hazy when viewed with a figurative mental pretense. But, that is my question, DO we take it as figurative? Or not? And if so, does it cause problems?This message has been edited by Mission for Truth, 06-20-2004 08:20 PMThis message has been edited by Mission for Truth, 06-20-2004 08:27 PMThis message has been edited by Mission for Truth, 06-21-2004 12:10 PMThis message has been edited by Mission for Truth, 06-22-2004 01:19 PM

I'm concerned if you open the topic this way it will spin off topic immediatley.The title is suggesting a dicussion of the figurative or literal use of the bible.However,

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the book of Genesis is clearly wrong, plain and simplep

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will immediately spin of into an argument about the flood, literal days, dating and who know what.I'd like to see you build some restrictions into what is and is not appropriate before we let the worms out of this can. Thanks.

No prob... I'll see what I can do

Have a look at that. What will happen? Will we discuss how the Bible is supposed to be taken and why? Nope we won't.We will get literalist statment saying that, obviously, science is wrong. Counters to that from others and so on.I think to keep this topic separate from all the science ones you have to stay away from that part of it.

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Some would say that the book of Genesis contradicts modern scientific theory

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Is that OK? I know it's kind of the same thing but now it's less 'heavy' of an impact and also I need that point to be able to go on with the rest of what I was saying.

I am SUCH a pain in the, uh, neck.How about not jumping to it being figurative in the opening post (OP)?How about just offering up a couple of points on both sides to kick the debate off. Or even just asking the question without picking a side.You see, I think this is a good topic to discuss. However, if you bring up the scientific reasons for it not being literal then you will spin totally off anyone topic almost immediately.It has a chance of not overlapping other topics if you keep it on others reasons for both literal and figurative. In fact, make it a rule that you don't want to discuss proving or disproving it.Do you understand what I'm getting at?If not I will release it anyway and then we will be forced to ride hard on the topic or close it. sigh

I totally understand what you're saying, I can see how it would go right off. I was just hoping the non-christians would answer, but, I can't really choose my audience here, lol. I'll try and reformat it a little more.

I've revised it a little more now to try and make it less of a hot topic for creationists who might get offended. I wasn't trying to be offensive in the first place either, but, to "oppose" the bible by asking common sense questions, I guess, will always be an offense to believers.

Thread moved here from the Proposed New Topics forum.

...I want answers, pls.

Read it. You happy now? Seriously, I can only give you what I believe about the subject. I've touched on it a couple times and you can find links at Message 72 or in a little more detail at Message 43 and the remainder of that thread.As I said, I can only speak for myself. But maybe they will at least open some lines for thought.HTH.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

The Bible was written by men guided by the Holy Spirit so that every jot and tittle is the way God intended it to be. Since it is "god-breathed" it is absolute truth. Sure, metaphors and symbolism are used along with many other literary devices. And of course one must have a complete knowledge of the original languages to get an absolutely precise interpretation.I believe in the Bible is found the absolute moral and spiritual truth. I also believe God has included many hidden secrets in the Bible for those who want to search them out.

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"It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings to search out a matter." Proverbs 25:2

I submit that the holy texts are figurative works because had God tried to relay the true nature of the world and universe with scientific explanations, the holy texts would not be comprehended by the masses. Even now the masses cannot fully appreciate the true complexity of the universe and the full scope of scientific progress and knowledge we have accumulated. A man (with or without God's guidance) wrote every holy text in such a way as to attempt to explain the unknown and control a fear of the unknown. In doing so many also supplied a moral guide to help civilize those who followed the teachings. I submit that the holy texts may have basis in accurate depictions of events but they are not literal depictions of events. Many passages are figurative and metaphorical in order to put the literal nature of the universe in a terminology, language, and conceptualization that the general public at the time could understand and accept. Things such as the creation of this planet, the origin of life, heaven and hell were explained in such a way that the general public at the time could comprehend them. The fact that science may now or in the future be able to explain certain things that at one time were unexplainable does not mean the holy texts were wrong, just that figurative explanations were used that can be interpreted many different ways to fit the literal scientific explanations that will become available as time goes on.As science progresses on every inhabited planet organized religion will continue to digress until such a point as one of 4 things happen.
1) Science can once and all either fully prove or disprove God beyond any shadow of a doubt.
2) Religion dissipates over thousands of years to be replaced by a godless science.
3) Religion and science merge and over thousands of years into a doctrine that does not negate the possible existence of God and but instead puts a literal accepted meaning to the figurative works thus keeping the best of all the holy texts without the need to compare rights and wrongs between the texts.
4) Due to the moral decay associated with the digression of religion the primary society at the top of the food chain fails to provide a sustainable habitable environment to secure the evolutionary chain into the next thousand years let alone the next hundred thousand years or longer.

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The Bible was written by men guided by the Holy Spirit so that every jot and tittle is the way God intended it to be.

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Maybe so, but that doesn't mean that God wanted Genesis to be literal. Or are you saying that God is incapable of using metaphor and hyperbole?

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Since it is "god-breathed" it is absolute truth.

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Absolute truth and literally true can be two different things. Jesus spoke in parables that held absolute truth, but the people and actions in those parables absolutely didn't happen, nor did they have to happen for the parables to hold absolute truth.

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I believe in the Bible is found the absolute moral and spiritual truth.

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And where do we lose those truths if Genesis is metaphorical?

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I submit that the holy texts are figurative works because had God tried to relay the true nature of the world and universe with scientific explanations, the holy texts would not be comprehended by the masses.

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Very good point. As you say, even today people have a hard time understanding the theory of evolution, much less astrophysics and quantum mechanics. Given the inability of creationists to even understand the mechanisms behind the theory of evolution, this would seem to be the reason that God used figurative language instead of a literal play-by-play.