Is the Bible Literal or Allegorical?
79152
Greetings,\n\nThe Bible is both literal and metaphorical. There is not always a clear line between the two. God uses a literary devise that no other author can use. I call it the "literal metaphore". \n\nFor example the story of Abraham and Isaac is both a literal story, and a figurative one. That is to say that it is a picture of the sacrifice of Christ, while at the same time is a true story.\n\nThe same is true of story of Jonah. His three days in the belly was a metaphore of the death and ressurection of Christ.\n\nThere are a number of places where the language seems strictly metaphorical, but it is probably rather a simplification. That is to say for instance John in Revelations did not understand all that he saw. His discriptions were no doubt literal to him, and he described them in the simplest terms he could relate to others with. \n\nGod Bless,\n\nRobert
742993
I think that this is the biggest problem with Christianity.  If you take the whole bible literally, than you aren’t making any logical sense, but it you take parts of it metaphorically than you have to pick and chose which parts to take seriously.\n\nIt’s all pretty self-serving if you ask me.
51838
You know, YOU take the Bible more literally than we ""Bible-thumpers"" do! You here, not us, seem to be claiming that every single verse in the Bible MUST be taken literally, and we believe that, yes, there really are verses that are meant only to be taken as allegory. Did Gd actually ""walk"" in the Garden of Eden? YOU seem to say that this, too, must be taken literally, and not us!\n\nSo, it is possible, FOR US, to ""Believe in"" the Bible without taking Every Single verse literally, although you seem to say this verse must be taken literally for us to believe in it....
1533
The entire Bible, old and new testament should be used as truth.  All scripture is inspired by God.  Extrabiblical accounts should only be used cautiously if at all.
459634
I'm sure this is tongue in cheek, but obviously one can be christian and not think that the bible is meant to be read as literal truth in every word.  you'd go crazy reconciling the contradictions.
224249
1. Father\n2. Mother\n3. Son\n4. Daughter\n5. Son's Wife (Daughter-in-law)\n\nAnd division is required when you separate the light from the dark or the truth from lies.  It doesn't appear that in this scripture it is allegoric.  He usually started off by telling when he was using a parable to make a point.  He was just using this example of division because it was commonplace for a son to take a wife and have her live with his family (not vice versa).  He was saying that the truth of the Lord will separate the believers and the non-believers, even in their own immediate families.\n\nResponse:  Read the entire text around your verses, not just one verse of your picking or choosing to distort.  The only allegory I see is the one you are creating.  Clearly none exist in the text you quoted.  It's pretty cut and dry.
850833
Is it me, or does Pangel always talk gobbledygook? LOL. Anyway, no, of course it is not a sin to use your mind that God gave you, to try and analyze things for yourself. The Bible was written thousands of years ago by many men, and much of it is NOT history, but rather allegory and symbolism. You are smart not to take it literally. After all, Jesus was always questioning the Pharisees about the law, and finding fault in it, Right?
640094
The *Bible* doesn't say.\n\nLawrence\nhttp://www.truebiblesermons.com
276367
The Bible In Basic English, 1965, by Cambridge University Press.  But let's vote on it to decide if it is true. :)
1051666
No. It doesn't say either of things.\n\nBut it doesn't matter anyway. The bible is a book of fiction and is a terrible waste of paper. Recycle it. Maybe it can be used to make toilet tissue. That would be a good thing, finally.
366000
Of course there are secrets. After all, the bible was written by man, not by God, so it's how man interpreted whatever actually happened. Who's to say that the bible itself isn't a work of fiction? The chuch chose what into the bible, as well. Pieces were picked specifically for their impact, and not because they were written truthfully.\n\nIn the end, it all comes down to faith. Do you believe that the bible is figurative or literal? Do you believe that Jesus was the son of God? Do you even believe in God? It's all personal.
1080983
The Bible was written thousands of years ago; since then it's been translated, re-translated, and possibly even mistranslated.  It's impossible to truly tell what its meaning is anymore.  As for what will happen in the end, no one can say for certain, because that part of the Bible is so wrapped up in symbolism that it boggles the mind just by reading it.\n\nAlso, despite what some may claim, the Bible is not written in code, either.
403005
The answer depends on which stories and the context in which you are asking.  Much of the Bible relates true history and has been documented by archealogical study.  Some Bible stories are exactly that, stories.  This doesn't mean they are not true in the theological sense.  They are stories told to relate a truth about God and his relationship with people.  Its like telling a story to illustrate a point.  The story may not be true, but the point the teller is making is true.  The key is to know what kind of story you are reading.  There are histories.  There is poetry.  There are songs.  There are philosophical dissertations.  Many forms of literature appear in the Bible.  When reading remember what the Bible is for.  God is trying to help us to know who he is and how he wants us to be.  If we read looking for the answer to these questions, "Who is God?" and "Who are God's people?" we will find that the answers found in the Bible are always true.
142584
The Bible suggests that humans are theomorphic, in the image of God.  But I think that men wrote this who had an anthropomorphic conception of God.  I think God is beyond any form like that.  Certainly he is not limited to some physical form.  For our benefit, God takes forms so that we can grasp some idea of what he is like.
674868
No,it doesn't seem more feasible at all.\nThe bible is a collection of thousands of stories..it doesn't have one single storyline,unless the constant reiteration of God's love can be termed a storyline... I'd rather believe that anyday!\nWhat do you think?
864987
'And everyone lived happily ever after'\n\nThe Bible doesn't promise that....
375977
Don't you have that backwards? I've met many people who believe every word in the bible even if you can prove that it is a miss translation, or against known facts. The bible can be used to "prove" anything you like if you take it out of context and add your own spin.