What is to be taken literally?

Woah there now Angel,While yes, you should keep the question of whether Jesus was God out of this thread, I would most CERTAINLY have to disagree with you. From what Jesus said, he was either the Lord, a liar, or a crazy dude. I think it makes most sense that he was God out of those, don't you think?Alright **cracks knuckles** time to get to work. I see that you all are debating how you can know what to take literally and what NOT to take literally. Like they were all saying, Jesus used parables and such to help us understand the things we would NEVER otherwise be able to understand. I think if you read the Bible, it's obvious to pick out which parts are historical and which ones are to be taken figuratively. God made everyone with good judgement skills. If you don't accept Genesis, you obviously just want to believe in Evolution just so you can "fit in" with some of the most influencial scientists in the country.Jesus makes it clear, "I am the way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." What do you think he means with this? Even if you don't accept the Bible, I'd like a reply as to what you think he meant. Or how about this, "I and the Father are one" John 10:30 I believe that one is. What do you think he was meaning there? Does he say that so that we won't believe him? So that we won't take him literally? Feel free to answer me! I'd be glad to here your opinion!

Hello again Ned!! It's nice to have you twisting what I said again! Lol! Just kidding!Ok here we go, first what I meant was that there are HARDLY ANY reasons why else NOT to accept Genesis. There isn't any introduction at the begininng of Genesis that says, "Then God told this parable," or "The following text is just a beautiful allegory." It's pretty obvious that the Creation account in Genesis isn't SUPPOSED to be taken figuratively.Unfortunately, all some evolutionists do is bash on creationists until the creationists try and compromise, thus escaping persecution. While I don't think it matters eternally speaking, I think that God will honor those who don't succumb to peer pressure, which is the number one reason any Christian believes in macroevolution and not take Genesis literally.
Then in response to your unnecessary mud slinging, all I will say is that YOU are the one wasting your time arguing with me, if I knew NOTHING about this, then why would I be here? It's true I don't know as much as people who major in this, (obviously), but I know enough to stump some people lol! I used to know a lot more about evolution last spring, because I was taking Biology and writing a research paper on this subject, but now I'm only taking Chemistry lol! So anyways, I'm sorry if I offended someone, but Angel didn't say anything hm... I wonder why she didn't do the mud slinging instead of you? Maybe you should let the person I "offended" do the correcting, I don't know I'm just saying...This message has been edited by Proboscis, 11-10-2004 01:44 PM

Hey there Ned!!WOW!! I didn't know that the possibility that God created the world was PROVEN wrong by SCIENCE which can't PROVE anything! Sorry I couldn't help myself lol! I don't usually use sarcasm, but I felt it was ok just this once.First off, you make this assertion that what some of the "scientists" is all true, and that just because so and so believes it, the Genesis is obsolete. I want to know some proof that Genesis ISN'T true. I don't want the answer "Just look around," because I do and I can't see how there couldn't have ben a creator! It is sooooo marvelous to see his Creation in action! Just a few days ago, I saw the MOST BRILLIANT display of the Northern Lights I have ever seen! The only thing I could think to myself was, "How can anyone NOT believe in a Creator?" Ok, I'll stop saying stuff about that and let you think about that later, as I should get back to my other school work.
To summarize, give me some of the "evidence" that Genesis isn't true or people won't just accept your assertion.

Hey people!I'm just wondering if anyone was gonna tell me how Genesis doesn't seem to be true to you and how it "doesn't fit." You have told me that I'm wrong enough, now tell me why I am. If you take Genesis literally, in the same way I do (there you go Ned, I'm not telling people what THEY believe! YES! ) then you would most likely believe that:1. God created everything. He made everything perfect, but mankind messed it up by disobeying God. That is literal.2. There WAS a world-wide flood. Evidence actually helps support this, both historically and scientifically. (That is, as long as you don't close your ears to hear any of it and dismiss it as fairy tale lol) If you need me to do so, I will get all my sources of information back out and prensent my case, but this isn't the right thread.3. God is perfect.4. There was NO death before the fall. Eden was paradise, it was perfect. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil, they introduced death into a perfect world and thus we have to deal with it today.5. Satan is out to deceive you and make you fall by twisting an distorting words that God said. He is also a master of diguise who can take different forms.6. God cares for us and set up his plan for our redemption so we could spend eternity with him and now ALL YOU HAVE TO DO is accept his gift! Seems to good to be true doesn't it?? He pays for us and we get to spend eternity in Heaven! WELL it is true.Those are just a few of the things that are obviously not meant to be taken figuratively. If you take, for example, that God is perfect figuratively, then you have no hope for salvation because Jesus needed to be perfect to atone for our sins. It's because of his perfection that we can look forward to eternity, instead of dreading it.

Hey! How's it going for you Nighttrain?Ok, yeah in answer to your question, I don't see any reason to believe why the "Jesus commands the fig tree to wither and it does" part of scripture should NOT be taken literally. Just because some things might not make sense to us, doesn't mean they aren't true. Right now, humans have limited knowledge. There will be a day when we will understand everything, but that day won't come until Jesus comes back.
So yeah, I'm kinda sure that's supposed to be literal. BTW good question!