Why read the Bible literally?

Brian,I think you have some good insights. Faith is such a complex and broad term that I'm not sure without individual contexts what it means.I think there may be varieties of literalists having to do with differing brain functions. Some may just be people who take almost everything literally and in the extreme case this may be a brain disfunction. Others may be literalists because their levels of anxiety lead them to avoid any ambiguity. Others are literalists because they have high needs to belong to a group that offers a reassuring authority. This need may be related to the anxiety level. There may be other reasons for it I'm not sure. Certainly literalists have a need to depend on an authority and to have life laid out and defined. They seem to need closure on almost all issues and avoid experiencing openess or unresolved questions without reassurance by an authority. All these things may be seen as a lack of faith if faith is being defined as the ability to maintain confidence i.e. low anxiety in open situations.The psychological and social phenomena of religious belief and religion is so complex. And for me the mind of a literalist or fundamentalist is so depressing that I find it hard to get enthusiasm up to study the phenomena though I do think such study is important given the impact on social policy, wars, etc.To sum up I'm saying, "because their faith is weak." is an interesting finding but I dont' find it that useful or helpful as an explanation, more as just an interesting observation as I try to understand the dynamics of religious literalism and fundamentalism.lfen

Everybody doesn't attack it. It's HARD to believe because the evidence not only doesn't support it but also because there is a lot of evidence to support there never was a world wide flood.Believing in the flood is an example of believing what isn't the case in this world. It's choosing literature and fantasy over fact, reason, and science. And you've every right to do this. It's still very hard for me to understand why you want to do this.lfen

Percy,I've no idea of the kinds of problems involved for Admins in dealing with Faith but I would like to put forth my views as a participant at this site. I feel that Faith and Buzsaw and even WillowTree though I can get irritated with them offer something very valuable to me which is the opportunity to understand others whose views of the world are so different from mine that I have to really work to see how they can believe the things they do. If they are banished I lose opportunities to see other human viewpoints.I don't have any idea what Faith must do to not be a nuisance to admins, but I do hope there is some way that she can continue to participate in at least the faith based bible forums here. I'd like to see Buzsaw back to, though restricted from the science forums obviously although I do consider it useful to see how the totally naive fundamentalist believers completely misunderstand science. For every Buz on this board there must be thousands of people in the US alone that would think he makes sense. I thinks it's important to at least be aware that these very different types of beliefs and thinking approaches exist.lfen

I disagree with you, even vehemently disagree with you but I don't hate your guts! What are you talking about a personal attack? Would you tell me the msg. number you are talking about?I've no idea whether you've been a nuisance or not to the admins but that was what Percy had said. I'm sorry you find it a nightmare, but like a nightmare you can always wake up, that is log out and look around and there you are safe and sound where ever you are. Just feel yourself breathing and notice nothing is threatening you and begin to relax a bit.I do hope you will tell me which of my posts you regard as a personal attack and if you really feel I should be suspended you could email Phatboy, I'd think he would be the easiest admin for you to talk to though I could be wrong. If I've done something to warrant suspension well then I'll take my suspension and work it out.lfen