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Old 01-04-2006, 07:13 AM   #1
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Default Interpreting the bible?

two questions:

-who decides what is to be interpreted literally and figuratively in the bible? each to his own? if so, then what's the point of organized religion...

-why do, some, christians reject parts of the old testament, but accept other parts? i know jesus supposedly 'fulfilled' the mosaic law, but what difference does that make? he didn't abolish it...

for example, fundies argue homosexuality is a sin because it says so in the old testament, but they don't follow all the ridiculous rules in the old testament.
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Old 01-04-2006, 11:34 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Random Evil Guy
two questions:

-who decides what is to be interpreted literally and figuratively in the bible? each to his own? if so, then what's the point of organized religion...
Fundamentalists say it's all literal. Some liberal Christians say it's almost all figurative.

A Greek Orthodox source answered this question by saying that church tradition told them which parts were literal and which were figurative.

Protestants would presumably tend more towards to each his own beliefs.

Quote:
-why do, some, christians reject parts of the old testament, but accept other parts? i know jesus supposedly 'fulfilled' the mosaic law, but what difference does that make? he didn't abolish it...

for example, fundies argue homosexuality is a sin because it says so in the old testament, but they don't follow all the ridiculous rules in the old testament.
This has been asked many times. There are some half way coherent answers somewhere - perhaps a Christian will link to them.
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Old 01-04-2006, 01:58 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toto
Fundamentalists say it's all literal. Some liberal Christians say it's almost all figurative.

A Greek Orthodox source answered this question by saying that church tradition told them which parts were literal and which were figurative.

Protestants would presumably tend more towards to each his own beliefs.



This has been asked many times. There are some half way coherent answers somewhere - perhaps a Christian will link to them.
i tried searching, but only found semi relevant answers. i will look again though...
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