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Why is there so much stock in specifically a very literal reading of the most modern translations of Genesis? Even as a religious person, I don't see where they

Why is there so much stock in specifically a very literal reading of the most modern translations of Genesis? Even as a religious person, I don't see where they're coming from. Arguments to be made about Genesis originally referring to "creation" (ex nihilo) vs "organization" are already pretty weak, what reason do we then have to assume that despite all the evidence of an ancient Earth that it was literal Earth-days, and that the idea it was literal Earth-days is somehow so important to God's plan that the Devil would fake evidence of fossils to try and get people to think it was NOT Earth-days?

Ensorceled 7y ago
Also, why does an infinitely powerful, just and benevolent God allow his chief rival to fuck with us so much?
- antod 7y ago
  > Also, why does an infinitely powerful, just and benevolent God allow his chief rival to fuck with us so much? Because it suits him? Partner sounds like a better description than rival. Unless of course, you aren't talking about Trump and Putin?
crimsonalucard 7y ago
As a religious person what is the justification for a non literal interpretation of the Bible? Was there a commandment that says God wanted you to interpret that way? Why does God want his messages to be non literal instead of literal? Perhaps each person is given a choice. You have three. Interpret the Bible literally, interpret the Bible symbolically or not even play the game and realize that no interpretation of the Bible is correct because the book is just as fictive as the Koran or any other holy book from an ancient religion. How would a human reconcile with their beliefs and how they were raised with reality as it exists around them. Science says that no one can turn water into wine, the Bible says that it can. Logically speaking the Bible is wrong. But when I've spent years reading the Bible and my entire identity is built around religion my only option is to say that the Bible is not to be interpreted literally. I must create a lie that validates reality and validates my identity. Also how would I know that I'm lying to myself? If I or anyone I knew was doing this form of psychological self manipulation, how would I know? You can't until you read this.
- tempguy9999 7y ago
  Nothing is really provable. The bible is full of oddness and inconsistency, but if you must tie your identity to your reading of a book, do it. It doesn't matter, except that you behave rationally (evaluate the problems world and the people around as they really are, as best you can), and decently (try to fix said problems). If you want to use the bible as an excuse to stone gays to death cos god says so then I'll oppose you because in my eyes that's utterly irrational and hateful. If you say it's between then and god, and take happiness in their happiness to be who they are while we share a planet, even if you don't understand it or agree with it, there's no point of friction between us. I use sexuality merely as an example, there are many others. Do as you will, just be decent, kind, rational.
- TallGuyShort 7y ago
  >> As a religious person what is the justification for a non literal interpretation of the Bible? The fact that there are parts that are explicitly given as being symbolic. This is actually addressed in the New Testament when Christ explains that he teaches in parables because he's speaking directly to a specific level of understanding. >> Science says that no one can turn water into wine No, science does not know how to turn water into wine. There was once a point where science did not know how to turn one element into another element, but it would have been incorrect to say that science had said no one could do it - that's confusing science with what people think. If there's a being that created the universe, I'd imagine that can pretty much do what they want with molecules. >> If I or anyone I knew was doing this form of psychological self manipulation, how would I know? How do you ever know that about anything? You trust your senses, but you have no more justification for doing so than people who have had intense spiritual experiences do for following up on those experiences. I view the intense spiritual experiences I've had as being a sense - it's no more rational for people to expect me to ignore what I've felt than it is for me to expect you to do the same things if you haven't felt that.
  - crimsonalucard 7y ago
    >>>The fact that there are parts that are explicitly given as being symbolic. This is actually addressed in the New Testament when Christ explains that he teaches in parables because he's speaking directly to a specific level of understanding. You missed the symbolism here. What you thought he meant was actually symbolism for an entirely different meaning. There's about 4 layers of indirection here meaning that each symbolic representation is in itself a symbolic representation of something else. This happens on four distinct levels. Reinterpreting this statement the correct way can change the entire interpretation of the bible.
inflatableDodo 7y ago
Taking a literal interpretation of the easy reading version of a message from a source purporting to represent the creator of the universe, means that you can declare yourself correct with the absolute minimum amount of thinking required. You would then be utterly wrong about reality, but everyone is probably utterly wrong about reality anyway, so might as well take the quick route.
Spooky23 7y ago
Congratulations, you weren’t indoctrinated by an extremist religious group.

Ensorceled 7y ago

Also, why does an infinitely powerful, just and benevolent God allow his chief rival to fuck with us so much?

antod 7y ago
> Also, why does an infinitely powerful, just and benevolent God allow his chief rival to fuck with us so much? Because it suits him? Partner sounds like a better description than rival. Unless of course, you aren't talking about Trump and Putin?

crimsonalucard 7y ago

As a religious person what is the justification for a non literal interpretation of the Bible? Was there a commandment that says God wanted you to interpret that way? Why does God want his messages to be non literal instead of literal? Perhaps each person is given a choice. You have three. Interpret the Bible literally, interpret the Bible symbolically or not even play the game and realize that no interpretation of the Bible is correct because the book is just as fictive as the Koran or any other holy book from an ancient religion. How would a human reconcile with their beliefs and how they were raised with reality as it exists around them. Science says that no one can turn water into wine, the Bible says that it can. Logically speaking the Bible is wrong. But when I've spent years reading the Bible and my entire identity is built around religion my only option is to say that the Bible is not to be interpreted literally. I must create a lie that validates reality and validates my identity. Also how would I know that I'm lying to myself? If I or anyone I knew was doing this form of psychological self manipulation, how would I know? You can't until you read this.

tempguy9999 7y ago
Nothing is really provable. The bible is full of oddness and inconsistency, but if you must tie your identity to your reading of a book, do it. It doesn't matter, except that you behave rationally (evaluate the problems world and the people around as they really are, as best you can), and decently (try to fix said problems). If you want to use the bible as an excuse to stone gays to death cos god says so then I'll oppose you because in my eyes that's utterly irrational and hateful. If you say it's between then and god, and take happiness in their happiness to be who they are while we share a planet, even if you don't understand it or agree with it, there's no point of friction between us. I use sexuality merely as an example, there are many others. Do as you will, just be decent, kind, rational.
TallGuyShort 7y ago
>> As a religious person what is the justification for a non literal interpretation of the Bible? The fact that there are parts that are explicitly given as being symbolic. This is actually addressed in the New Testament when Christ explains that he teaches in parables because he's speaking directly to a specific level of understanding. >> Science says that no one can turn water into wine No, science does not know how to turn water into wine. There was once a point where science did not know how to turn one element into another element, but it would have been incorrect to say that science had said no one could do it - that's confusing science with what people think. If there's a being that created the universe, I'd imagine that can pretty much do what they want with molecules. >> If I or anyone I knew was doing this form of psychological self manipulation, how would I know? How do you ever know that about anything? You trust your senses, but you have no more justification for doing so than people who have had intense spiritual experiences do for following up on those experiences. I view the intense spiritual experiences I've had as being a sense - it's no more rational for people to expect me to ignore what I've felt than it is for me to expect you to do the same things if you haven't felt that.
- crimsonalucard 7y ago
  >>>The fact that there are parts that are explicitly given as being symbolic. This is actually addressed in the New Testament when Christ explains that he teaches in parables because he's speaking directly to a specific level of understanding. You missed the symbolism here. What you thought he meant was actually symbolism for an entirely different meaning. There's about 4 layers of indirection here meaning that each symbolic representation is in itself a symbolic representation of something else. This happens on four distinct levels. Reinterpreting this statement the correct way can change the entire interpretation of the bible.

inflatableDodo 7y ago

Taking a literal interpretation of the easy reading version of a message from a source purporting to represent the creator of the universe, means that you can declare yourself correct with the absolute minimum amount of thinking required. You would then be utterly wrong about reality, but everyone is probably utterly wrong about reality anyway, so might as well take the quick route.

Spooky23 7y ago

Congratulations, you weren’t indoctrinated by an extremist religious group.