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What does "Bible literalism" mean? according to this definition.

InvestigateTruth

Well-Known Member
According to one source, "Biblical literalism is the belief that the Bible, or at least large portions of it, should be read literally, not allegorically. This means the language should be interpreted as used in everyday writing and speaking."
Can someone explain what that means? I don't even understand that definition, reminds me of what evolutionists say in a way -- say something without explaining it. So what's really "Bible literalism" according to the above definition?
Biblical literalism - Religions Wiki
To me, it means, for example, where Jesus resurrected Lazarus, it is seen as a literal physical resurrection, whereas it can be seen as metaphorical story. Likewise when Jesus cured blindness, it is seen as literally curing eyes, whereas it can be interpreted spiritually.
 

YoursTrue

Faith-confidence in what we hope for (Hebrews 11)
To me, it means, for example, where Jesus resurrected Lazarus, it is seen as a literal physical resurrection, whereas it can be seen as metaphorical story. Likewise when Jesus cured blindness, it is seen as literally curing eyes, whereas it can be interpreted spiritually.
Part of it would depend on who we listen to, and how we resonate with the interpretation or understanding or teaching. To me, it is hard to see, metaphorically speaking, that Jesus did not raise Lazarus from the dead for several reasons. For one thing, the reaction of those seeing it. And then some went off and told the religious leaders and they determined to put him to death. (John 11:45-63)
 

InvestigateTruth

Well-Known Member
Part of it would depend on who we listen to, and how we resonate with the interpretation or understanding or teaching. To me, it is hard to see, metaphorically speaking, that Jesus did not raise Lazarus from the dead for several reasons. For one thing, the reaction of those seeing it. And then some went off and told the religious leaders and they determined to put him to death. (John 11:45-63)
I see. But the rest of story can also be interpreted metaphorically.
Resurrection can be seen as spiritual Resurrection. I would see it not just metaphorical, but more figurative with a hidden meaning to be discovered.
If Jesus had indeed performed these Miracles, and the Jewish leaders believed He was resurrecting the dead, why would they not believe in Him? Why would they dare to want to kill Jesus, if He had shown such power, as to resurrect a dead?¹

These stories are dream-like. If someone sees dreams, the dream needs to be interpreted. For example if someone sees, 7 fat cows, it is interpreted as 7 years of prosperity. I am not saying the Authors of Bible, necessarily saw all these in dreams, but they were inspired by God as they said all scriptures are inspired by God. God often inspires by giving visions and dreams. Then the vision and dream is to be interpreted symbolically.
 
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YoursTrue

Faith-confidence in what we hope for (Hebrews 11)
I see. But the rest of story can also be interpreted metaphorically.
Resurrection can be seen as spiritual Resurrection. I would see it not just metaphorical, but more figurative with a hidden meaning to be discovered.
If Jesus had indeed performed these Miracles, and the Jewish leaders believed He was resurrecting the dead, why would they not believe in Him? Why would they dare to want to kill Jesus, if He had shown such power, as to resurrect a dead?¹

These stories are dream-like. If someone sees dreams, the dream needs to be interpreted. For example if someone sees, 7 fat cows, it is interpreted as 7 years of prosperity. I am not saying the Authors of Bible, necessarily saw all these in dreams, but they were inspired by God as they said all scriptures are inspired by God. God often inspires by giving visions and dreams. Then the vision and dream is to be interpreted symbolically.
Some people get jealous. I am speaking specifically now only of that one incident. Human nature tells us that people can be jealous to the point of causing great harm to others. But anyway -- if you read that part of the Bible where Jesus resurrected Lazarus and the reaction to that incident, it cannot possibly be taken as symbolic or metaphorical. It isn't very long, I suggest you read John chapter 11 from verse 45 to 57. It isn't very long.
 

YoursTrue

Faith-confidence in what we hope for (Hebrews 11)
What would have been obviously absurd about Noah's Flood at the time it was written?

Yes, it seems absurd to us today, but what sign is there that a scribe writing thousands of years ago understood that the story was allegory and expected his audience to interpret it as allegory?
I was kind of thinking the same thing. In a way. Not entirely because I believe in God as described in the Scriptures. But according to Bible outline, there is a succession of persons mentioned all the way from Adam to Noah and then after that. So obviously somebody said something along the way about the Flood and survivors.
 

rational experiences

Veteran Member
Old testimonials existed preached first as human science history and thesis that caused lifes attack.

No Jesus teachings existed first at all liars.

You were told don't rebuild the temple science in Jerusalem. Jeru where circuit for pyramid turned.

Rich men in an unnatural human position claim I do whatever I want. Whenever I want. Giving self the life bully position as our destroyer.

Controlled by his human choice as just human men.

Our life story argument natural human observer versus science of God earth Satanists.

Is the meek innocent world community human families life warning.

Jesus event didn't happen until it had. Satanists preach the testimony however they want to manipulate it for new machine sciences thesis.

All of our life for thousands of years as humans from sperm ovary. Always two adults once a baby human themselves.

There is no science of God thesis.

So biology human owned a legal testimony said in life an ape living is closest human science advice versus a satanic scientist. Satanists who tried to claim a human was a hologram first that became a living biology.

Knowing sperm ovary Grows a human baby. No baby no baby body changing into a human adult either. Human biology has to exist first to quantify as a human.

If their fake thesis existed no baby sex conception would ever be needed. All human life would always just manifest.

The lie they use. The man adult life sacrificed attacked said I look back to my baby life. I came out of my mother's human ovary cell. Her womb body had healed first for my human conception.

Yet in man adult life biology who dies I return by heritage to a dead man's human body. Not a woman's.

As a man as the man owns only a penis sperm. Not an ovary. Hence as a man scientist theist I cannot use human biology in any scientific theory.

It was self lived attacked and self proven.

So a man baby was immaculately non ovary conceived. A theme. Never a woman's cell. And it was a metaphorical teaching about medical biology realisation. By a man human.

Reasoned why a man using human biology in any science thesis had lied.

First...the immaculate heavens is a water oxygenated clear gas mass exact by science terms not any human. A heavenly term only.

First...the day is also it's own body mass terms also not a man.

Therefore the human destroyer a human theist a satanist was the legal bible topic. How human men lied and theories life versus a machine reactions destruction.

As no machine in human life exists first. And humans never owned any human science advice why they owned a human life. It was contrived.

Science exact by human observation said as a human biology dies in a heavens gas water science status. The science answer always owns a beginning thesis and an end thesis. Said a human biology dies and decomposes.

Is the exact science reason why a human scientist legally by human intelligence is not allowed to impose any human science thesis to biology.

It had been a human court of law absolute legal status. Bible book shut.

All science documents were put into a sealed vault as evidence.

It was human rich men Satanists who re accessed nuclear science advice.
 

YoursTrue

Faith-confidence in what we hope for (Hebrews 11)
Some interpret it as taking the Bible as history and science. And looking at the YEC movement of the 20th century this seems to be justified. But I understand why all of this is so confusing. A lot of people refer to "hard core believers of the Bible" as literalists. I doubt the educated proponent of anti biblical or anti christian polemics would say this, but others do sometimes. Thats probably why this question arose.

Nevertheless, someone like Rashi from the earliest 2nd millennium would say that it's important to understand what the text "illustrates" rather than what history it speaks of or reproduces. "He really did not need to do this (because He is omniscient), but Scripture intends to teach the judges that they should not proclaim a defendant guilty before they have seen the case and thoroughly understood the matter in question." says Rashi. And in saying that he was apparent citing an earlier midrash. That is according to some scholars who also say this kind of tradition is the reason why the Jews did not react to the emergence of evolution as an opposing view to religion or a danger to the Bible like the Christians did who had a more literalist belief or thought process.

Bible literalism could also be a contentious matter when it comes to translation. If you are to translate the Bible into English literally, it might have some problems. That is why they call it interpretation, not translation, though they name it translation. So if you transfer it literrally, that is also called "literalism", which has nothing to do with science, history or anything of the sort.

Some like Robert Shinn said bible literalism is "treating symbols as though they were identical with the realities they represent". There are others who call, being uncritical of the Bible is Bible literalism.

Goes a long way doesnt it?
Yes. And, of course, there are interpretations of such things as statements or illustrations about death, fire and the like. Plus how many 'gods' there are, etc. Which obviously opens things for interpretation as well as wars, and/or torture, hmm? Anyway, it's a nice sunny day here, that always makes me feel good. Looking forward to the future. Hope you have a good day.
 

rational experiences

Veteran Member
A human can't use the use of words before a human exists as a human or the human.

Human the topic one self one species by word a human. One is defined a word my species as one species is a human.

So you can't use human words to claim you can speak about where a first human your species came from.

No words existed before you used words one human species the word user.

Was a legal document a humans assessment of a destroyer human personality disorder reviewed....a theist human scientist.

Who said a machine never owned any words so doesn't exist in reality.

God the earth our planet is a rock and your human words don't own why a rock planet existed.

And you were told to never use words to give God the rock your human Names word terms.

It was a direct known human legal status once abided.

Book of science shut only telling whole truth was allowed.

Then came dark ages. Humans depraved sexually diseased with no medical herbal doctoring allowed. Church torment torture. Satan the human returned mind is exact.

Then no science no star fall man's consciousness healed self development as did human behaviour. So Satan's science man mind became better but he still knew how to destroy life on earth by nuclear.

Why we named him the destroyer.

Is pretty basic you can't know unless the book of evils was reopened and retaught....science. why human science is evil and what it caused before.

Yet if you were instructed no man is God you wouldn't know it was said unless you read from the book that said it.
 

firedragon

Veteran Member
To me, it means, for example, where Jesus resurrected Lazarus, it is seen as a literal physical resurrection, whereas it can be seen as metaphorical story. Likewise when Jesus cured blindness, it is seen as literally curing eyes, whereas it can be interpreted spiritually.

What you really mean is, though the same curing of eyes, and the resurrection of Lazarus can be spiritualised to mean what eve you want post hoc ergo propter hoc.

Is not that whats always done in the Bahai apologetics? Especially yours?
 

InvestigateTruth

Well-Known Member
What you really mean is, though the same curing of eyes, and the resurrection of Lazarus can be spiritualised to mean what eve you want post hoc ergo propter hoc.

Is not that whats always done in the Bahai apologetics? Especially yours?
I believe that's what the Authors of Bible actually meant. They were talking about spiritual Resurrection and spiritually curing blindness.

Mind you there are many evidence that the Prophets meant spiritually "dead", and spiritually "alive".

Other parts of the Bible which seems to indicate a physical resurrection or curing the physical eye, were meant to be a test. The Book teaches that the real mission of the Prophets is spiritually awakening mankind, and curing their spiritual blindness. They did not come to perform miracles or magics. In fact the Book rebukes those who ask to see miracles. Then the Book gives stories to test us. If we truly understand the Book's teaching we realize these are meant to be spiritually interpreted. But if we didn't understand it, then we will be mislead. Those who like to see miracles, interpret these as physical miracles, because this is what they like to belive and see. They are the same kind of people that if they lived at the time of Jesus, would have asked Him to show them miracles. Then Jesus would have told them, only an adulterer generation asks for miracles.
Now, after Jesus left the world, there must have been a way to separate people who are after seeing miracles from those who follow spiritual guidance. This is how the Book is written so, even after Jesus leaves, there is a way to test people's intentions.
This is how God guides and misleads. He does both, using the verses. This is how God separates people from people to reward or punish accordingly.
 
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firedragon

Veteran Member
I believe that's what the Authors of Bible actually meant.

Why, whats your methodology other than just making stuff up and preaching is what matters. Not what you believe.

Mind you there are many evidence that the Prophets meant spiritually "dead", and spiritually "alive".

So you "believe" Lazarus was just "spiritually dead"! Nice. Lol.
So when Lazarus was said to have been "sick", was that also spiritual sickness? So he gets a "spiritual sickness" and gets a "spiritual death" later due to his sickness, and is brought back into a "spiritual life" or a "human life"?

Please do make some things up to answer this. Its nice to read a new world comedy of terrors.


Other parts of the Bible which seems to indicate a physical resurrection or curing the physical eye, were meant to be a test.

Yeah brother. Thats just made up.

Your whole post is just making things up on the go.
 

Clara Tea

Well-Known Member
According to one source, "Biblical literalism is the belief that the Bible, or at least large portions of it, should be read literally, not allegorically. This means the language should be interpreted as used in everyday writing and speaking."
Can someone explain what that means? I don't even understand that definition, reminds me of what evolutionists say in a way -- say something without explaining it. So what's really "Bible literalism" according to the above definition?
Biblical literalism - Religions Wiki

TAKE THE STORY OF JONAH AND THE WHALE:

God provides when you pray or when there is a need. (Moral to the story). An allegory is a story, picture, or poem that generally teaches a moral.

Jonah lived inside a whale. But there are no whale fossils that big. He would have drowned in there. (Literal meaning).

Background story. Jonah was stranded in the desert, starving, when he prayed to God for relief. God provide a huge amount of meat (a whale). And Jonah "ate of" the whale meat. Not just any part of the whale, but he "ate of" the belly meat. Thus, Jonah ate of the belly of the whale (because of God's miracle, providing delicious and bountiful food when he really needed it).

So, how did "ate whale meat" become "lived in the belly of a whale?" Mistranslation. Many kings and popes had agendas to rewrite the bible, and the bible was originally written in Latin, and early on, translated into Arabic, Greek, and Hebrew. Those translations and writings clearly are not accurate. For example, Genesis 1:25 and Genesis 2:18 contradict (regarding which came first, man or animals). Reverend Melissa Scott (wife of the late Reverend Gene Scott) translates ancient texts, and digs out the real translations of the bible.

For thousands of years, pastors have insisted that God and the bible are perfect. Thus, when a scientist claimed that meteors come from God's perfect heavens, he was tortured into recanting. Pastors thought that if the bible is flawed, and the only thing that we know about God is from the bible, then our knowledge of God is flawed, so they had to keep telling the lie that the bible was flawless.

Jesus taught by examples and allegories.
 

Clara Tea

Well-Known Member
Why, whats your methodology other than just making stuff up and preaching is what matters. Not what you believe.

So you "believe" Lazarus was just "spiritually dead"! Nice. Lol.
So when Lazarus was said to have been "sick", was that also spiritual sickness? So he gets a "spiritual sickness" and gets a "spiritual death" later due to his sickness, and is brought back into a "spiritual life" or a "human life"?

Please do make some things up to answer this. Its nice to read a new world comedy of terrors.

Yeah brother. Thats just made up.

Your whole post is just making things up on the go.

"comedy of terrors" Jesus taught peace and harmony. In discussing Jesus and the bible, some get very angry. Jesus would not have wanted that.

No human is perfect. Even I get angry when I see 1,000,000 Iraqis murdered though Iraq had nothing to do with terrorism, and when I see torture camps. I get angry when I see that nothing is done about hoards of homeless people, while taxes were cut for the super-wealthy dozens of times (and they take tax loopholes, like Bill Gates paying no tax as he earned billions). It angers me to see jobs and factories outsourced, ruining the USA, and driving up debt that will be a burden for future generations.

I, too, must control my emotions. I must tell people that we must go in a different direction, without feeling such a great sense of loss.

Theists believe because they care and want to help. We have to bear that in mind when discussing.
 

Clara Tea

Well-Known Member
Some interpret it as taking the Bible as history and science. And looking at the YEC movement of the 20th century this seems to be justified. But I understand why all of this is so confusing. A lot of people refer to "hard core believers of the Bible" as literalists. I doubt the educated proponent of anti biblical or anti christian polemics would say this, but others do sometimes. Thats probably why this question arose.

Nevertheless, someone like Rashi from the earliest 2nd millennium would say that it's important to understand what the text "illustrates" rather than what history it speaks of or reproduces. "He really did not need to do this (because He is omniscient), but Scripture intends to teach the judges that they should not proclaim a defendant guilty before they have seen the case and thoroughly understood the matter in question." says Rashi. And in saying that he was apparent citing an earlier midrash. That is according to some scholars who also say this kind of tradition is the reason why the Jews did not react to the emergence of evolution as an opposing view to religion or a danger to the Bible like the Christians did who had a more literalist belief or thought process.

Bible literalism could also be a contentious matter when it comes to translation. If you are to translate the Bible into English literally, it might have some problems. That is why they call it interpretation, not translation, though they name it translation. So if you transfer it literrally, that is also called "literalism", which has nothing to do with science, history or anything of the sort.

Some like Robert Shinn said bible literalism is "treating symbols as though they were identical with the realities they represent". There are others who call, being uncritical of the Bible is Bible literalism.

Goes a long way doesnt it?

Jews didn't see evolution as a contradiction to their holy scriptures. It sort of explains them.

Example: Jewish: God made adam from mud (chemicals). Scientist: Life was created from muddy water (chemicals), then evolved to mankind. Science, using DNA, fills in the details, tracing man's origins to bonobo chimps, and further back to protozoa.
 

YoursTrue

Faith-confidence in what we hope for (Hebrews 11)
Jews didn't see evolution as a contradiction to their holy scriptures. It sort of explains them.

Example: Jewish: God made adam from mud (chemicals). Scientist: Life was created from muddy water (chemicals), then evolved to mankind. Science, using DNA, fills in the details, tracing man's origins to bonobo chimps, and further back to protozoa.
chimps, etc., can be traced way back to that warm watery substance, right?
 
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