Genesis Literal or Figurative

[coffeeelover]

Genesis 1 AMP


Does that sound like a fairy tale? Hardly, it sounds like a technical report! Does any fairy tale go into such detail? Does Red Riding Hood go into detail about HOW exactly the wolf talks? Does Cinderella go into detail about HOW mice talk or HOW the pumpkin turned into a chariot or HOW her rags became a dress? No, they do not. Fairy tales leave things to the imagination, Genesis 1 does not leave anything to the imagination!



(I used the Amplified Translation because it does a very good job at getting across the original Hebrew.)

It is a fairy tail.

 

[coffeeelover]

Lack of faith, that is why people do not believe Genesis.

Common sense and education are why people don't believe in literal Genesis

 

[watchman F]

Common sense and education are why people don't believe in literal Genesis

Did you read my post on what God says about the wisdom of men. You call Genesis a fairy tale doesn't surprise seeing as you deny the resurrection of Christ. What does surprise me is that you claim christianity.

 

[Mike]

CL, you answered the donkey question for yourself, but put the matter of the resurrection of as "schools of thought say...". Earlier, you said you feel He did die but nothing about His resurrection. Are you in this school? I'm thinking so, but I don't want to put words in your mouth. Did Jesus physically rise from the grave, according to your belief?

CL, I'm bumping this, because you must have missed it. It's not like you to avoid a direct question.

 

[coffeeelover]

Did you read my post on what God says about the wisdom of men. You call Genesis a fairy tale doesn't surprise seeing as you deny the resurrection of Christ. What does surprise me is that you claim christianity.

Men wrote the bible. If you want to say God says wise men are fools, and it is best to remain ignorant that is your prerogative, but the religious sheisters want people to remain ignorant so they fall for their superstitious gobldy gook and take their cash

 

[Pard]

It is a fairy tail.

Fairies have tails? That was a bit random, here I am talking about tales and you want to bring up tails.

It is not a fairy tale. I do find it interesting how when I called the scientific view of creation a "myth" you started crying and whining and acted like someone had just killed your dog. And here you are calling God's Word a myth and a fairy tale and somehow you want us to conform to your twisted views?

Hey Caroline, I think you deleted and edited my posts where I called evolution and the big bang a myth, would you be so kind as to do likewise to Coffee's slandering of the Word of God? Thank you.

 

[Pard]

Men wrote the bible. If you want to say God says wise men are fools, and it is best to remain ignorant that is your prerogative, but the religious sheisters want people to remain ignorant so they fall for their superstitious gobldy gook and take their cash

What denomination are you? UU?

 

[coffeeelover]

CL, I'm bumping this, because you must have missed it. It's not like you to avoid a direct question.

I haven't decided yet. I think I am leaning against it.

 

[coffeeelover]

Fairies have tails? That was a bit random, here I am talking about tales and you want to bring up tails.

It is not a fairy tale. I do find it interesting how when I called the scientific view of creation a "myth" you started crying and whining and acted like someone had just killed your dog. And here you are calling God's Word a myth and a fairy tale and somehow you want us to conform to your twisted views?

Hey Caroline, I think you deleted and edited my posts where I called evolution and the big bang a myth, would you be so kind as to do likewise to Coffee's slandering of the Word of God? Thank you.

Why do you whine to mods so much? Genesis is a myth.

 

[Pard]

Why do you whine to mods so much? Genesis is a myth.

...Ah deflection, the tactic of those who know they are cornered...

Because that is what one is supposed to do when someone tried to claim the mantle of Christianity and then goes around bad mouthing not only Christians, but God!

Like I said, what church do you do to?

 

[watchman F]

Men wrote the bible. If you want to say God says wise men are fools, and it is best to remain ignorant that is your prerogative, but the religious sheisters want people to remain ignorant so they fall for their superstitious gobldy gook and take their cash

Mans wisdom is follishness, God's wisdom is wisdom. I would much rather follow truth/ Jesus, than ride on the coat tells of men on their way to Hell.

 

[watchman F]

Originally Posted by Mike

CL, I'm bumping this, because you must have missed it. It's not like you to avoid a direct question.

I haven't decided yet. I think I am leaning against it.

I have a direct question for you. How can you claim to be a christian when you haven't even decided whether or not you believe the most foundational doctrine in all of christianity?

Without the resurrection of Christ there is no christianity.

 

[Pard]

Without the resurrection of Christ there is no christianity.

The resurrection is the pivotal part of Christianity. I forget the man's name, but in a debate he stated that if one could prove the resurrection impossible (something that is impossible to prove, by the way) all of Christianity falls tot he wayside.

 

[Mike]

1 Cor 15:
" 12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."

No room for determining that Christ didn't rise from the dead. No room.

 

[Vic C.]

I am fairly certain Jesus dieing on the cross is an actual event, while the whore of Babylon isn't a real woman.

Here lies the problem... You are fairly certain Jesus' crucifixion was an actual event???

You need to be 100% certain, without a shadow of a doubt, that HE died or your Faith, if you have any, is in vain. So, this is the problem I'm seeing; your mind is making decisions that conflict with the spirit and your spirit is grieving.

My advice (seriously), take a break from here before one is given to you. Speak to some members via PM that may help you. Speak to a Pastor. You need to get right faith in your heart before you attempt to tackle the ancillary doctrines in the Bible.

By saying you are fairly certain, you are standing on some very shaky ground. You need to work on the essentials first, ok?

 

[Elijah674]

Well I think it has to do with the fact that those who take it literal like to say those who don't aren't Christian.

I mean really. We all know science has advanced the world, and scientists and universities are not out to deceive us in some conspiracy.

I have seen a fossil, but never a talking snake.

Hey, Elijah here. There are two class of folks seen in Heb. 6. Verse six gives the class that I will by/pass for now. It is the positives only that will be seen that you or no one else can take away from these ones at the time of total surrender. (Acts 5:32) Be sure to note that ONLY these ones have had these Positives, so unless one has?? He KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THEM!
OK:

Heb.6
[1] Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

[2] Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

[3] And this will we do, if God permit. (???)

[4] 'we will just strike this out for now'... and [have tasted of the heavenly gift,] and [were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,]

[5] And [have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,]


OK: This elimates at least at the close of their probation, all the Broadway ones of Matt. 7 + [your Jer. 17:5 Arm of Flesh ones] along with [ALL] of the Rev. 17:1-5 ones.


And 'i' suspect that you too are skating on thin ice so to speak?
Ask yourself why Christ called James & John the 'sons of thunder' before He was accepted of them completely?? Even take note of Peter in Matt. 26:69-75. And if one has not given their complete self up to Christ? They will always be doubting + useless to Him! Rev. 3:16


--Elijah

 

[Pard]

Here lies the problem... You are fairly certain Jesus' crucifixion was an actual event???

You need to be 100% certain, without a shadow of a doubt, that HE died or your Faith, if you have any, is in vain. So, this is the problem I'm seeing; your mind is making decisions that conflict with the spirit and your spirit is grieving.

My advice (seriously), take a break from here before one is given to you. Speak to some members via PM that may help you. Speak to a Pastor. You need to get right faith in your heart before you attempt to tackle the ancillary doctrines in the Bible.

By saying you are fairly certain, you are standing on some very shaky ground. You need to work on the essentials first, ok?

:yes I highly doubt you will want to, CL, but you can always PM me. I'd love nothing more then to help you strengthen your faith in God. That's what all of us want! Catching the lambs as they run astray is a great task and though we have had our knocks I have always approached you with the intent of helping, sometimes we let our anger get the better of us, is all!

But seriously, you drop me a PM with questions or whatever, I'd love to help you out, because that is what I have always been trying to do.

 

[467AIR]

The Book of revelation is to me the most spiritual Book in the Bible; the Book of Genesis I place in second place. Yes it is literal; but the letter killeth and Genesis message far exceeds the literal Word of God.

 

[Dennyh]

If the book of Genesis is figurative and not literal then what about the Exodus? Is the story of the Exodus literal or figurative? Did the Israelites literally leave the bondage of the Egyptians, cross the Red Sea, wander in the desert forty years, cross the Jordan river and take claim to the Promised Land? Or is the story of the Exodus a figurative picture of the life of the Believer? The story of how a person starts in bondage to sin(Egypt), is delivered by God(salvation), gets baptized(Red Sea), relies on God to supply all their needs(wandering in desert), dies a physical death(crossing Jordan), enters heaven (Promised Land)?

So which is it?

Personally I believe it is both but that is just me.

 

[jasoncran]

If the book of Genesis is figurative and not literal then what about the Exodus? Is the story of the Exodus literal or figurative? Did the Israelites literally leave the bondage of the Egyptians, cross the Red Sea, wander in the desert forty years, cross the Jordan river and take claim to the Promised Land? Or is the story of the Exodus a figurative picture of the life of the Believer? The story of how a person starts in bondage to sin(Egypt), is delivered by God(salvation), gets baptized(Red Sea), relies on God to supply all their needs(wandering in desert), dies a physical death(crossing Jordan), enters heaven (Promised Land)?

So which is it?

Personally I believe it is both but that is just me.

it can be both, especially when i start looking at the hebrew mind alot more closely.