Would you mind if I asked you a few questions? I am not looking to debate, but I would like to understand a few things. Since moving here (central America from the Deep South), I've been on a serious spiritual journey, and I would love to hear your thoughts. Why don't you take it literally? How do you determine what is and isn't literal? What do you do with the sections you don't take literally? Anything else you think is relevant to understand, I would love for you to share. Thanks for your time!
While I consider myself as taking the Bible literally in many cases, every Christian takes some things literally and some things figuratively. I don't know anyone who takes everything literally. I think the major differences in Christian groups are with beliefs regarding inerrancy.
For me, it's simple. I was brought up Quaker. The quote I was taught was, "Why trim yourselves with the saints’ words, when you are ignorant of the life?" The Bible is a historical account of revelations given to others, but God is alive and real and is continuing to speak, and we should all be open to such revelation. "The still small voice of God" can be heard in all of us, if we just stop and listen. Putting our faith in words printed on paper is a kind of idol-worship, if it means you are shutting yourself off from the voice of God. I still feel this way, though I no longer attend Meeting. Fortunately, my present church is a liberal one. As for folks who say, "But it says in the Bible..." I'd point out it also says "Thou shalt not kill." Simple, right? Unless, of course, you kill in the service of your country, or to defend others, or if God says you must (as in Samuel)... Bible scholarship is a complex and fascinating course of study and I highly respect those people who devote their lives to it. The rest of us, I'm afraid, tend to simply find what we're looking for when we read our Bibles. Confirmation bias - we see what we want to see, whatever reinforces what we already believe. And we get angry when others see something different. (My inner-Quaker tells me it's the sin of pride. Humility isn't something I do well, but I try...)
This is exactly the journey I'm on. I'm over being a (fill in denomination). I want to follow Christ. That's why I'm in a question kind of mood.
Whenever I'm in that mood I inevitably find myself falling back on my Quaker upbringing. However, many years ago I took my husband to a meeting and watched him pretty much run in the other direction. Pacifism and that man just don't get along. Quaker meeting wasn't going to work for us, as a couple. Fortunately, there's a lot of friendly crossover and close ties between my new church and my old meeting. But we didn't land here right away. We investigated many different options before finally finding a place that felt right for both of us. Best wishes on your journey!
I don't follow the bible word for word. Simply because it has been translated, rewritten and written by men. Some of whom were greatly influenced by the cultures they were living in at the time. I believe it contains great lessons for life. Lessons God gave people. I like the words of God Almighty, 'I am what I am'. I believe in growing spirtually toward the day when we meet our maker. And I don't assume we will ever have all the answers. Just living in a way that would please God and worshipping Him, his son Jesus and the Holy Ghost is enough. For whereever two or more are gathered in His name so He is also.
So that part you take literally? I'm just kidding with you. Thank you all for your answers. You've helped me tremendously. The Spirit has me moving on a clear path, and this conversation confirmed it for me.
If you've got an Episcopal church anywhere near you, you might drop in and ask if they have an Education for Ministry group or even check out EFM Online. It's a four year course (you can do it in local groups or online) that includes a comprehensive reading of the Bible along with church history, philosophy, theology and the church in the modern world. It's done from a moderate/liberal perspective and is meant to inform and help you find your ministry. It's open to all Christians, regardless of denomination. You might not find the answers you're looking for but it's a wonderful course and I guarantee you come out the other end with better and more interesting questions. It's a prefect course for those who aren't satisfied with easy answers and are intellectually curious about their faith and the church. I'm actually going to take training this fall to become an online mentor although, due to the impending baby, I'll probably hold off leading an actual group for a year or two.
There is 1 English speaking church in the city I'm in. It's nondenominational. Thank you for thinking of it, though.
I really appreciate your answers. Thank you for sharing. (I was raised Catholic, and dh's daddy is a fundementalist preacher. Welcome to my screwed up head. LOL)
I do hold fundamentalist beliefs, but I just wanted to thank you for asking this question. I have found everyone's answers to be very interesting and educational.
Well, this has been eye-opening. I had no idea beliefs like this existed(Adam and Eve being just a story). I just discovered I'm a "biblical literaist" and didn't know I was one. I didn't know other options were available. Personally, I would never feel truly secure in my salvation if I thought some of the Bible was just "made up". I like knowing the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. Sorry, I know I'm not the kind of person this thread was directed at. I felt led to respond. I'll go away now.
You're actually in the minority worldwide as most Christians don't belong to churches that view the Bible as literal. ETA: I'm in the same boat as you but from the opposite side. I didn't realize there actually were literalist Christians until I was an adult. No Christian I knew thought of Adam and Eve as historical figures. Just be a little careful with words. I don't believe much of the Bible is literal but I, and most non-literalists, don't think it was "just made up" either. It's almost 3,000 years of divinely inspired wisdom that's deeply meaningful and contains great truths that inform our faith. I'd really encourage you to explore other views of the Bible. I don't have an interest in converting you to a different view of the Bible but I've found it enriching to see how the relationships other Christians (and Jews for that matter) have with the Bible. I'll never adopt a literalist view myself but it's been great to get to know people who have and it's given my own view of Christianity more depth.
Welcome to the wide world! :wink: I agree, I am an all or nothin' kind of gal. However, I do not believe that I have a corner on the market where God is concerned, and in fact don't 100% fit in with a particular denomination, even though I do attend a Baptist church. My feeling on the matter is that God knows our hearts, he knows our actions, and in the end, it is about whether or not we know His Son. I don't think it truly matters whether you are Baptist, Quaker, Catholic, Lutheran, etc.
