Should the Bible be interpreted literally?

Christians are divided as to whether the Bible should be read as the literal word of God, or whether there is room for interpretation, taking into account the time and context in which the Bible was written.

Implications to Other Questions

Is the earth approximately 6000 years old? (as opposed to 4.5 billion)
Is the earth at the center of the solar system?

Experts and Influencers

Suggest Expert Quote (click to expand, no login required)

Agree

Experts In Christianity

Kurt Wise Paleontologist, Theologian

Agree

I also believe science is such that these are theories of humans, so if it’s a choice between God’s clear word and humans’ reason, then I’m going to take God’s word over it. That’s why I am a young-age creationist as opposed to an old-age creationist.

The God Said Pitch

Edit Pitches

12 Feb 2009 Source

Albert Mohler President, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Agree

[The reason I am a young-age creationist as opposed to an old-age creationist is that] I have to come to the Scriptures -- and in particular the first 11 chapters of the Book of Genesis -- and try to figure out why I should interpret those 11 chapters differently than I would interpret any other passage of Scripture.

The God Said Pitch

Edit Pitches

12 Feb 2009 Source

Disagree

Experts In Christianity

The Catholic Church Largest Christian Church

Disagree

[Fundamentalism] accepts the literal reality of an ancient, out-of-date cosmology simply because it is found expressed in the Bible... [It] is dangerous, for it is attractive to people who look to the Bible for ready answers to the problems of life. ... Without saying as much in so many words, fundamentalism actually invites people to a kind of intellectual suicide.

The Admirable Admission Pitch

Edit Pitches

23 Apr 1993 Source

Experts In Atheism

Richard Dawkins Evolutionary Biologist, Writer, Atheism Activist

Disagree

...no serious theologian takes the Old Testament literally anymore... We choose the good verses in the Bible and we reject the bad. Whatever criterion we use to choose the good verses and throw out the bad, that criterion is available to us anyway whether we are religious or not. Why bother to pick verses? Why not just go straight for the morality?

The Incoherent Pitch

Edit Pitches

09 Oct 2006 Source

Comments

Add Your TakeOnIt (click to expand, no login required)

0 Points Refuse 01 Apr 2009 Stance on Question: Disagree

Here we go. Should the Bible be interpreted literally? Well if it is in fact the word of God I would sure as hell follow it down to the syllable. Sacrificing your immortal soul for a couple decades of Earthly pleasure doesn't seem like the best trade-off.

However, since man has made comparable claims of equally impressive written works, I find it a bit arrogant to esteem one and completely blow off the rest. Even if the rest of them are complete BS, how strong can your faith be if you're never willing to put it to the test?