[easytree]

I am spooked by other Christians that take the Bible literally, educated or not. Very disturbing.

[xzins]

The only way to take the bible is literally. It is writing. The literal interpretive method is the same method you learned in English class for deciphering something like "Animal Farm."

First, you take the meaning of a particular sentence. Then you see how it fits into it's paragraph; what the argument it. Then you check to see if it's prose, poetry, letter, etc. Then you compare that piece to others things by the same author. Then you compare to other associates of that author in that same time period. Then you compare to religious writers throughout that entire religious tradition.


I take it literally and am proud of it.


Now, if you mean taking certain things out of context, then I'm with you. Generally, that's what people mean when they say "literally."

[Map Kernow]

I am spooked by other Christians that take the Bible literally, educated or not. Very disturbing.

What really scares me are all these right-wing kooks who take the Second Amendment literally. What's the point in walking around with a gun? Or these guys who think that "free exercise" of religion means they've got a right to wish me "Merry Christmas," or expose children---children!---to prayers and Nativity scenes. Or these hate groups that think the literal language of the First Amendment allows them to utter hate speech or display offensive symbols. Scary, scary, scary! BRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!

[ibheath]

I am spooked by other Christians that take the Bible literally, educated or not. Very disturbing.

If you don't take the bible literally, then how can you be a Christian? In other words, if the bible is not true, why claim to follow Christ? Why not follow Plato, Socrates, or Mohammed? HOw about Budda, or Hari-Krishna. They are all equally legitimate, if none of them can be taken literally.

I am spooked by Christians who don't believe the bible.

[Secret Agent Man]

How else is one supposed to take the Bible? It's not really worth much if you can just pick and choose what parts you will accept for yourself.

I admit there are things that the Bible says are wrong that I wish were acceptable. As a Christian, you don't automatically/magically lose all your desires to do wrong things. There are some bad things that appeal to my human nature, and I have to exercise self-control over these areas of my life. But just because I tend to like certain things that I understand are sinful, doesn't mean I can just say they're right because I really want them to be right.

[LiteKeeper]

I am spooked by other Christians that take the Bible literally, educated or not. Very disturbing.

Why?

[easytree]

Interesting comments. So to be a Christian I must not think about how the Bible was written, what we know and don't know about the Bible and follow it blindly? I believe God gave us a brain to use and not follow the Bible blindly. Faith is a personal relationship between God and me. The Bible is a guide not an absolute.