[Taltarzac725]

There is an article in today's Villages Daily Sun about The Bible and whether people consider it the literal word of God, an interpretation of the words inspired by God, or an ancient book of fables and history.

I was wondering how TOTVers come down in these statistics?

Thanks for Patricia Steele for giving me this idea.

Personally I believe parts of the Bible are the actual words of Jesus Christ. Some of it is history; some of it is fable. And much is very open to interpretation. Jesus was the Son of God but it would be hard to get at what he actually said "word for word" as the various writers who put together The Bible had various agendas of their own and probably fudged a great deal to make sure that their point of view was not lost.

I am kind of looking at The Bible from what I know of how people act in the 21st Century.

[kittygilchrist]

The 66 books from "In the beginning God created.." to "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."
Not only literal, but an utterly great gift of words to mankind: the beginning and end of our planet, how to know God, how to love, how to live, and how to become eternal.

[buggyone]

There are Christian denominations that believe the Earth is 6,000 years old and that people existed on Earth at the time of dinosaurs despite all scientific evidence disproving their beliefs.

[Carpe Diem]

But the bible doesn't say that outright. That is one group's interpretation. Another group believes there could have been a "gap" of billions of years between Gen 1:1 & Gen 1:2. (Google "Gap Theory") So you can't conclude the bible is wrong because of some people's interpretation.

People count the 6,000 years from the day that Adam was made. A lot could have happened between 1:1 & 1:2 - before man was made. Isaiah 45:18 says He did not create it "without form and void." God made the earth perfect. Something happened after the original perfect creation that made it "without form and void." That time span or "gap" could have been billions of years. The catastrophe that made the earth "without form and void" could have killed the dinosaurs.

So anybody who reads this and has thought they couldn't become a Christian because they believe the earth is over 6,000 years old don't have to hold back anymore. There's room for you too!

[TheVillageChicken]

Leviticus 21.20 states that I many not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

[graciegirl]

As a Catholic I was taught not to literally interpret the Bible which we called "Sacred Scriptures". As a grown up woman with a scientific bent I continue to agree with what I was taught. Actual life suggests that literal interpretation is not valid.

I would NEVER quarrel with anything people hold sacred unless it taught to harm others and they were following those beliefs.

We can talk, and we can debate, and we can quarrel and we can zing and we can write clever things, but how others view this subject, if it differs from our beliefs, is not our business.

Most people of our generation were taught to be respectful and courteous and accepting of other's ideas and differences.

One thing this old 74 year old woman has learned in all of this living is that you WILL not change anyone's mind on religion or politics, so keep your mouth shut. That is what most of us were taught.

Please continue. But DON'T HURT each other.

Your mother has spoken.

[Carpe Diem]

...

[Carpe Diem]

Re: Poor eyesight and the altar of God.

That was an old testament verse. "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God . . Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need." (Heb 4)

You always have access to the throne of grace. When you approach God - He only looks at your heart.

[Challenger]

1 John 4:8
"He that loveth not , knoweth not God for GOD IS LOVE"

Kind of says it all for me.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

As a Catholic I was taught not to literally interpret the Bible which we called "Sacred Scriptures". As a grown up woman with a scientific bent I continue to agree with what I was taught. Actual life suggests that literal interpretation is not valid.

I would NEVER quarrel with anything people hold sacred unless it taught to harm others and they were following those beliefs.

We can talk, and we can debate, and we can quarrel and we can zing and we can write clever things, but how others view this subject, if it differs from our beliefs, is not our business.

Most people of our generation were taught to be respectful and courteous and accepting of other's ideas and differences.

One thing this old 74 year old woman has learned in all of this living is that you WILL not change anyone's mind on religion or politics, so keep your mouth shut. That is what most of us were taught.

Please continue. But DON'T HURT each other.

Your mother has spoken.

In my childhood home Politics, Religion and Money were off the table for discussion and that suits me just fine ....................

[Carpe Diem]

Originally Posted by Challenger

1 John 4:8
"He that loveth not , knoweth not God for GOD IS LOVE"

Kind of says it all for me.

Yes.

God is light. "God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5
God is life: "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men." John 1:4
And GOD IS LOVE.

[Kahuna32162]

Belief is a personal choice and that choice needs to be kept personal.

[Rags123]

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee

In my childhood home Politics, Religion and Money were off the table for discussion and that suits me just fine ....................

You are correct.

Problem is that now they have become all woven together into one. It is quite impossible to live your life with no impact from all 3 and thus avoid discussion. Pick almost any topic in today's "political" world....most impacted or begun with religion...and funding thereof is inevitable to come up.

It is also very difficult to discuss one without blend into the others.

[jblum315]

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee

In my childhood home Politics, Religion and Money were off the table for discussion and that suits me just fine ....................

Same in my home

[Taltarzac725]

I remember in my bonehead English class in high school at Earl Wooster High School in Reno, Nevada the teacher Mrs. Barbara Mitchell said we could talk about anything except religion and politics. She would often talk about witchcraft though which had been a very important issue to many before the age of the Enlightenment.


And, then, there is Harry Potter. A lot of that series seems to touch on religion or at least magic.

So much of world literature involves sex, money, religion, and politics. All of which you find all throughout The Bible.