Is the Bible Allegorical or Literal?

[Exaltist Ethan]

And no, you are still wrong. The literal interpretation is very easy to refute, but that does not leave the rest of it safe. Not by a long shot. The problem is that there are so many different varieties of Christianity that it is impossible to show that they are all wrong in a lifetime. But in general another huge failure in Christianity is the concept of substitutionary atonement. And of course the bodily resurrection is also a large problem for the religion. There are so many topics and some may be in your version of Christianity and some may not be. You are making a hasty generalization because you only see atheists going after the fundies.

Are you trying to say that atheists are against both the literal and allegorical accounts of the Bible?

 

[Subduction Zone]

Are you trying to say that atheists are against both the literal and allegorical accounts of the Bible?

Of course. Why wouldn't they be?

 

[Exaltist Ethan]

Of course. Why wouldn't they be?

It's silly to be against the message behind a book. And there are so many ways to interpret a book like the Bible. I don't find that atheists too often attack the allegorical parts of the Bible but rather the literal parts instead.

Edit: The kind of people who argue against the allegorical parts of the Bible are probably Satanists.

 

[Kenny]

Another question disputed for ages causing Christian unity to be split into thousands of sects over interpretations of the Bible.

Some examples - you may wish to add more.

The seven days of creation - allegorical or literal truth?
Science has proven the earth is 4.5 billion years old.

Adam and Eve - Allegorical or literal?

The Second Coming - Riding on a cloud with angels - literal or allegorical?

Christ said ‘let the dead bury the dead - literal or allegorical? (Luke 9:60)

we will find out soon enough

 

[Subduction Zone]

It's silly to be against the message behind a book. And there are so many ways to interpret a book like the Bible. I don't find that atheists too often attack the allegorical parts of the Bible but rather the literal parts instead.

Edit: The kind of people who argue against the allegorical parts of the Bible are probably Satanists.

That would depend on the message now, wouldn't it? If a message supported poor morals shouldn't one oppose it?

 

[InChrist]

Another question disputed for ages causing Christian unity to be split into thousands of sects over interpretations of the Bible.

Some examples - you may wish to add more.

The seven days of creation - allegorical or literal truth?
Science has proven the earth is 4.5 billion years old.

Adam and Eve - Allegorical or literal?

The Second Coming - Riding on a cloud with angels - literal or allegorical?

Christ said ‘let the dead bury the dead - literal or allegorical? (Luke 9:60)

I think the Bible contains both; passages which are to be taken literally and those which are to be read allegorically.

I go by the old common sense golden rule of
interpretation, as follows:

When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.” –Dr. David L. Cooper (1886-1965),
founder of The Biblical Research Society



This has often been shortened to:
“When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense, lest it result in nonsense.”

 

[InvestigateTruth]

Another question disputed for ages causing Christian unity to be split into thousands of sects over interpretations of the Bible.

Some examples - you may wish to add more.

The seven days of creation - allegorical or literal truth?
Science has proven the earth is 4.5 billion years old.

Adam and Eve - Allegorical or literal?

The Second Coming - Riding on a cloud with angels - literal or allegorical?

Christ said ‘let the dead bury the dead - literal or allegorical? (Luke 9:60)

Why should Prophets of God write an allegorical Book? That is the question.

 

[metis]

Well apart from a few facts in the Bible most all of it isn't. The stories make more sense as symbolisms rather than interpreted literally.

I agree, which doesn't take away the general moral teachings.

I love "The Power of Myth" by Joseph Cambell and Bill Moyers, and I think that anyone can learn some things from it-- even me!!!

 

[Subduction Zone]

Why should Prophets of God write an allegorical Book? That is the question.

To better facilitate communication.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

To better facilitate communication.

But apparently that has cause many people to take those allegories literally, causing more misunderstanding.

 

[CG Didymus]

This is where the genre of Myth is misunderstood by most moderns, I think. Myth isn't a story like LOTR, it is a way of explaining human nature and the past in "God time". The stories aren't literal in the sense we understand, but they explain what we would essentially call human psychology, archetypes, economic systems etc. The Adam and Eve Myth carries many such understandings, such as departure from a nomadic to a settled lifestyle, human suffering, human inequality, evil desires etc.

These Myths remain useful to draw on, which we still do. We still draw on Greek Myth, Roman Myth and fairy tales to illustrate concepts. I used Sisyphus as an example the other day. One may talk about the Battle between Set and Horus, etc.

I think the creation story, the flood, parting of the seas and so many more are myths but were told in such a way that the people believed them to be actual historical events. As we know, many Christians today believe them to be true.

That, I think, is the problem Baha'is face. They believe those stories to be symbolic, which they can then make their interpretation of the Bible and the NT fit into their beliefs. Even more important than making creation and the flood symbolic, Baha'is needed to make Satan, hell and a physically resurrected Jesus symbolic. That way Jesus is just one of many "manifestations" of God and their prophet is the current one and has the necessary teachings for the world today... so they say.

 

[CG Didymus]

Why should Prophets of God write an allegorical Book? That is the question.

With the Bible and some of the other Scriptures, did a prophet really write any of it? Even the NT? Who would you consider a prophet out of all the NT writers? And even with the Baha'i writings, isn't it clear when something was an actual historical event being described and when it is an allegorical, poetic thing? That's the problem. Baha'is have to convince people that something like the resurrection, that is described as if it was an actual event, was really a symbolic story about the "spirit" of Jesus rising, not his physical body.

 

[CG Didymus]

"Is the Bible ... ?"

Such questions are frustratingly ignorant and broken at their inception. The Bible is, first and foremost, a multifaceted ensemble of different tests, composed and redacted at different times, by different people reflecting different cultural influences and, often, different primary intent.

It's not Moses. It's mosaic.

And when some people, including Baha'is say "the Bible" they include the NT and are arguing about Christian beliefs and things said in the NT about Jesus.

 

[CG Didymus]

In my opinion (which won't be shared by many Christians or Muslims) the early parts of Genesis are clearly myths. By 'myth' I mean stories that help people make sense of things. 'Myths' in this sense provide a broader plot narrative into which the events of life can be fitted to give them meaning.

I dont know if I've ever heard a Baha'i use the term "myth" to describe any of the Bible stories.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

With the Bible and some of the other Scriptures, did a prophet really write any of it?

Depends on what is your definition of Prophet?

Even the NT? Who would you consider a prophet out of all the NT writers?

Jesus was the Prophet. His followers wrote the NT, bases on the words and teachings of Jesus. Thus, the NT, essentially is the Message of Jesus through His first and or second generation of His followers.
The Purpose of God, by sending Jesus, was to leave with them His teachings. To say that, Jesus was unable to leave His teachings among His followers, is to say, God failed to leave and convey the Messages He intended.

And even with the Baha'i writings, isn't it clear when something was an actual historical event being described and when it is an allegorical, poetic thing?

I believe it depends on the person reading it and understanding it.

That's the problem. Baha'is have to convince people that something like the resurrection, that is described as if it was an actual event, was really a symbolic story about the "spirit" of Jesus rising, not his physical body.

It is not a problem for Bahais, in my view. A Bahai does not gain anything by convincing others to think like them, or understand like them.

 

[SDavis]

Another question disputed for ages causing Christian unity to be split into thousands of sects over interpretations of the Bible.

Some examples - you may wish to add more.

The seven days of creation - allegorical or literal truth?
Science has proven the earth is 4.5 billion years old.

Adam and Eve - Allegorical or literal?

The Second Coming - Riding on a cloud with angels - literal or allegorical?

Christ said ‘let the dead bury the dead - literal or allegorical? (Luke 9:60)

I'll stick with those that you listed

The Hebrew word YOM could actually be translated as a period of time. There are Christians who will refute this - mainly to keep the teachings that's been passed down for centuries intact.

God himself is a scientist after all he created everything he said let there be light in the Big Bang occurred and it actually started with a burst of light. So God gave man a form of scientific knowledge for man to use but the Bible does say the things that are seen are not made of things which do appear - Hebrews 11:3

Adam and Eve _ even for any of the humanoids / hominoids there had to be a first male and a first female.

It didn't say he was riding on a cloud - it said he was coming with the clouds.
And what are those things flying around within the clouds
Obama on UFO videos: 'We don't know exactly what they are'

Opinion | Now that ‘60 Minutes’ has climbed aboard the UFO mother ship, it’s time for skeptics to eject

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/05/17/ufo-sightings-navy-ryan-graves/

UFOs regularly spotted in restricted U.S. airspace, report on the phenomena due next month

Let the unsaved bury the unsaved is what Christ meant.

 

[Dawnofhope]

The seven days of creation - allegorical or literal truth?
Science has proven the earth is 4.5 billion years old.

Allegorical

Adam and Eve - Allegorical or literal?

Allegorical

The Second Coming - Riding on a cloud with angels - literal or allegorical?

Allegorical

Christ said ‘let the dead bury the dead - literal or allegorical? (Luke 9:60)

Allegorical

 

[Subduction Zone]

But apparently that has cause many people to take those allegories literally, causing more misunderstanding.

I know, "messengers of God" appear to be an incredibly poor communication device no matter what path they take.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

I know, "messengers of God" appear to be an incredibly poor communication device no matter what path they take.

Maybe... another option is, they wanted to limit their message to fewer people, who are their like-minded. So, only those who understand their language, may understand their language. By "language", I don't mean, like English, German, French or Greek, but I mean, their symbols, allegories, and parables. Just as Jesus was saying parables all the time, and when His disciples asked Him why you speak parable, what did Jesus answer?

 

[Subduction Zone]

Maybe... another option is, they wanted to limit their message to fewer people, who are their like-minded. So, only those who understand their language, may understand their language. By "language", I don't mean, like English, German, French or Greek, but I mean, their symbols, allegories, and parables. Just as Jesus was saying parables all the time, and when His disciples asked Him why you speak parable, what did Jesus answer?

That sounds rather evil. Such an important idea should not be limited by accidents of birth.