Why do Christians take the Bible so literal? Some parts are absolutely absurd. There was a well-known Baptist, George Hensley, who took the Bible as the word of God. He thought thay he would be invulnerable to snake bites and poisions This lunatic was constantly in trouble with the law for endangering the idiots that went ot his church. having them touch snakes, etc. Let me fast foward to the ending Hensley died of a snake bite

workerbee

jrebel7

Balance is a key factor in any thing we do. When we read the Bible, it is important to read everything within the context of the whole chapter or book. Also, realizing the New Testament is the fulfillment of the old is important to remember. Anyone can take one section out of the Bible and make 'that' their religion or practice.

Why do people believe that they can earn salvation? Why do people believe that unless they do rituals daily, they are in danger of death? Because at some point in their lives, they were taught certain things but not the total picture. The Bible is quite clear if read in context what is parables and what is teaching for daily living, what is needed to receive the free gift of salvation, what is stated as an example of the power we have when we call on the name of Jesus to help us in time of need, what things to avoid, what blessings are available, what we will want to do when we put our trust in Jesus, how to forgive, etc. but we need to know the whole of it, not just the part of it. Those who take one thing and make that their religion have not read all that is said about it.

As humans, we so many times think we have to "do" to be accepted, "work" to be okay with God. If we read the scriptures in full, we know salvation is a free gift to those who desire to ask Jesus into their hearts but that after we do that, we will desire to work to help other people, share the word of God, etc. It is all about balance and knwowledge of the scriptures and the context in which each subject matter is discussed in the Bible.

Sometimes, I believe that we, as human beings, find it easier to be ritualistic in our life, than to really pray and read God's word and get direction for our lives each day from God speaking to our hearts. If we take one thing out of the Bible, we can make that our religion, though it would not be correct. We can be religious in anything. We can be religious about getting up at 5:00 a.m. each morning, or brushing our teeth 7 times a day, or religious about being in a church three times each week without fail but being a spiritual person and spending time with God in prayer and reading the Bible, then going about our day striving to honor Him in all we do and say, I think is where we stay in balance.

workerbee

But surely you don't believe the world is 6000 years old? or that Noah's Ark is true? What I am asking is, do you beleive all of those stories or like more modern Christians do you know many are just stories not to be taken literally?

workerbee

progunr

Men wrote the bible, not God, but they called it the word of God.

I believe that it is without a doubt, the greatest fictional novel ever written.

With that said, I do believe in God, or a Creator, but I can't accept the bible as fact.

I find it hard to understand how anyone could believe that Noah was 600 years old when he gathered two of every species, loaded them on the ark, and floated around for about a year, before running aground. Sorry, that would be an unattainable task for even a 60 year old, much less 10 times that age.

Choux

The must important thing to understand is the the Bible was written before almost all knowledge! Knowledge drives out ignorance and superstition.

Really, the only hard science at the time was Mathematics, and we see a lot of references to numbers in the Bible, lots of verses verifying that the writers of the Bible thought that numbers had magical properties. Guess they were amazed by Arithmetic and associated it with "God", hence power.

Today, those who favor literal interpretation of the Bible which is ignorance are those who attack science, schools and the Constitution....

bushg

workerbee, I was raised around people that worshiped with the serpent. I'm 45 and only know 2 people in the history of our community that died from a bite. So while to you or me it may seem crazy, they see it as honoring their God. Who am I to judge them and to get all worked up over it and call them names.
They think we are insane for wasting our time with modern music, computers, t.v.s etc...
They must think we are nuts for ingesting caffiene, tobacco, alcohol and over eating.
Maybe they are ignorant to the ways of today but they are doing what they believe in and I feel like that is their right just as it is mine to be on this computer with music in the back ground while sipping a nice cold beer, googling up ways to lose the extra weight I have gained from overeating.

Fr_Chuck

Actually not it is really absurd that people don't believe in God and beleive that the bible is his word. And yes the bible is true every word, the parts that are stories are noted as such. And yes, God made some people invulnerable to snake bites when it was needed, and saved people from poisions when it was his will to happen. He has stoped guns from firing for people at times, he has cured people from various levels of death at times, all in his will that we don't fully understand.

When one takes what the bible says as a reason to do silly things, then they are not in God's will, can God save you from snakes and poisions, yep every day he has a need to. But that need is not there when we do it on purpose, since the bible also tells us not to test him.

jrebel7

I loved this post bushg! You bring out a lot of good points and with humor besides!!!!!!!!!! A sense of humor is something we all need more of.

workerbee

Fr_chuck, you say he made SOME people invulnerable, how sad for you making excuses for God. the Bible was written by uneducated, hateful, ignorant, homophobic, men that's it next you wil tell me that the earth is 6000 years old, what about Noah's ark? Never answered that one

workerbee

jrebel7

I do, by my choice, believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God. My faith in Jesus Christ and having Him be in my life has brought me much strength, knowledge of how to love others, hope for tomorrow and a peace that comes from knowing where, without a doubt, I will spend eternity when I pass on. There has always been and always will be people who believe in the Bible but who have different views of certain scriptures. I know that there have been times I have read a certain scripture but then there has been a time when I needed direction or guidance or peace about a situation and I have prayed in Jesus Name and asked God to help me through His word. I begin to read, not choosing a particular area of the Bible and the answer seem to just be there in that same scripture I have read so many times prior that did not really mean much to me those times. To me, that is part of the miracle of His word. That may not be everyone's experience and I am not saying it should be, just sharing one tiny part of my faith in God and how it blesses my life.

I know some people do not believe that the Bible is anything but, as one stated, "I believe that it is without a doubt, the greatest fictional novel ever written", but there is one thing that always puzzles me and I can't tell exactly workerbee what you believe just by these few posts but I am just saying, if a person chooses not to believe in the Bible, I don't understand the anger that comes with that, especially toward the ones who do.

I enjoy sharing my experiences and my belief but I do not ever want to argue about it. Each of us believe what we do but I think it is always good to share with others, our beliefs, our experiences, whether spiritual in nature or not. We learn as we live and as we share and as we listen. I appreciate your posting of this question. It opens up many areas that can be "debated until the cows come home" or it can open up a sincere question and answer sharing time but I doubt the debating will help.

I read a lot lately of how Science is continually proving what has been believed for years by those who believe in God. I think it will continue to do so and it amazes me but does not surprise me, when I read that. I just get really excited when I see Science and God brought together in the same discussion. Thank you for allowing me to express my views and respecting that we all will differ somewhat in our views, if not dramatically, then in degrees.