ANSWERS: 4
  • The question is...well...sort of inaccurate. In my experience, ALL Christian sects interpret MANY passages of the Bible literally, and ALL Christian sects interpret MANY passages of the Bible non-literally. Simple examples of each: (always taken literally) "Jesus wept." (always NOT taken literally) "I am the vine, you are the branches." *** "Modern science and Evolution" do NOT necessarily contradict a literal interpretation of the Bible. What they DO contradict is very particular set of interpretations of an entire series of Bible passages, a set of interpretations BY DESIGN intended to allow a person to calculate an "age of the Earth" from the Bible. This set of interpretations is ONE POSSIBLE set of literal interpretations, but it is NOT the only possible set of literal interpretations and it is most certainly not the most LIKELY or REASONABLE set of literal interpretations. That is to say: if one takes the approach of interpreting the Bible in the most reasonable way that is still completely literal, one can NOT calculate an age for the Earth and one can NOT accurately claim that the Bible directly contradicts the concept of species evolution. *** That being said, the denominations of the majority of Christians (a large majority) accept that ***certain portions*** of the Bible were never intended (by the author[s]) to be literal history but, instead, were always intended to be ALLEGORICAL. Note that in such cases ***reasons are presented*** with regard to each passage as to why it is believed to be allegorical rather than literal. *** Personally I find such reasoning WEAK (I *AM* a Bible literalist), but there is no doubt that such reasoning IS used by these sects to determine which passages are and are not allegorical. That is: they're not just saying, "Science says that can't be right, so now we believe that passage is allegorical. Everything else is literal." Instead, they're saying, "We've been teaching that these particular passages are allegorical for well over 1,000 years, based on certain assumptions and reasoning (note: none of which have to do with those passages contradicting science that was not even proposed until centuries later)." *** I've never heard a pro-gay interpretation of the Bible. The Bible - in both Old and New Testaments - clearly condemns homosexual acts. In fact, not only homosexual acts, but ALL fornication is condemned repeatedly and severely in the New Testament. *** Nothing in the Bible about 900-year-old giants. Yes, there are giants (read: unusually tall humans, some more than 7 feet tall..."just like in real life"). Yes, there are some people claimed to live hundreds of years. No, there are no people identified as giants that are ALSO claimed to have lived hundreds of years.
  • This applies to many topics, why would Christianity escape it? Paul states to not get mixed up in this, and to focus on the spiritual teaching. Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work, to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone. For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth a and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life. This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless. Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned.
  • 1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Modern science destroys Darwinian theory and confirms the literal interpretation to the Bible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysjDk_AtA1I&list=PLLMbBOZkQl-SavKC5XnZzD3FhpW5dImAS
  • As with many different things in life, the Bible is interpreted differently by different people and Christian sects. 2 Timothy 2:15 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC

Answerbag | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy