"Literalness" of Scripture

[susie_g]

The Director of Religious Education at our parish recently told my 4th grade son’s class that the stories of creation and Noah in the Old Testament are myths, didn’t really happen, but teach us truths about our faith. Is she right? I was raised Evangelical, and converted about 10 years ago. I always believed that these Old Testament stories were true history, and took them as fact, events that really happened. What does the Church teach about the Old Testament stories? Are they symbolic, or did they really happen?

 

[space_ghost]

susie g.:

The Director of Religious Education at our parish recently told my 4th grade son’s class that the stories of creation and Noah in the Old Testament are myths, didn’t really happen, but teach us truths about our faith. Is she right? I was raised Evangelical, and converted about 10 years ago. I always believed that these Old Testament stories were true history, and took them as fact, events that really happened. What does the Church teach about the Old Testament stories? Are they symbolic, or did they really happen?

maybe, jury is still out at least with some theologans… i for one don’t understand why we have to have an answer for something thats not going to amount to much when it’s all over…

Personally… i have no problem in believing it’s (the great flood, jonah in the belly of whale/fish…etc) all true… but if i’m lucky enough to get to purgatory and they tell me that the jonah thing was a parable i won’t put up a fuss…

It’s really ok to discover Santa Claus is not real… but the happiness and love you enjoyed prior to the revelation was great… in fact it was so great, that despite the minor sadness we felt in the discovery of the truth, we still perpetuate him to our children because we know the bottom line was happiness and celebration and love…

i’m like you, i like to belive in the magic… but i will not complain if i discover when it is all said and done that certain storeis were not literal…

 

[Grolsch]

susie g.:

The Director of Religious Education at our parish recently told my 4th grade son’s class that the stories of creation and Noah in the Old Testament are myths, didn’t really happen, but teach us truths about our faith. Is she right? I was raised Evangelical, and converted about 10 years ago. I always believed that these Old Testament stories were true history, and took them as fact, events that really happened. What does the Church teach about the Old Testament stories? Are they symbolic, or did they really happen?

Its very difficult to say. There is some absolute historical truth to them. For example when know there was an enormouse flood in the Black Sea region. Could this have been Noah’s flood? Probably. Did Noah put a pair of every animal on earth on his ark? Probably not. More likely a pair of every animal he could find. At that time the known world was probably the distance you could travel on foot or on camel. Not very big.

As for genesis the Church teaches that humanity began with the creation of a man and woman who we name Adam and Eve. Although they may have evolved from something else through the power of God’s hand rather than have been literally formed from clay. The point of the story is that we owe our existence to God and should be grateful.

So really you’re son’s teacher should be careful labelling everything as “myth”. There is alot of symbolism but also much historical truth.

It’s important to remember that the writers of the bible were not like modern historians, concerned with every detail. They wove history into a narrative designed to teach truths about God and about ourselves.

 

[Fidelis]

Before you listen to what anyone tells you, read for your self what the Church has to say. Here is a link to the Vatican II document on sacred Scripture, Dei Verbum:

vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html

And the section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church that talks about the Scriptures:

scborromeo.org/index2.htm

 

[MariaG]

Well said! That is exactly how I feel!

posted by space ghost
maybe, jury is still out at least with some theologans… i for one don’t understand why we have to have an answer for something thats not going to amount to much when it’s all over…

Personally… i have no problem in believing it’s (the great flood, jonah in the belly of whale/fish…etc) all true… but if i’m lucky enough to get to purgatory and they tell me that the jonah thing was a parable i won’t put up a fuss…

It’s really ok to discover Santa Claus is not real… but the happiness and love you enjoyed prior to the revelation was great… in fact it was so great, that despite the minor sadness we felt in the discovery of the truth, we still perpetuate him to our children because we know the bottom line was happiness and celebration and love…

i’m like you, i like to belive in the magic… but i will not complain if i discover when it is all said and done that certain storeis were not literal… http://forum.catholic.com/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif

 

[MariaG]

Wait a minute! Santa Claus is not Real?

 

[Church_Militant]

MariaG:

Wait a minute! Santa Claus is not Real?

Awww Crudbuckets!

 

[Steve_Andersen]

susie g.:

…What does the Church teach about the Old Testament stories? Are they symbolic, or did they really happen?

Yes

 

[Reformed_Rob]

Church Militant:

Awww Crudbuckets!

Hey, this may shock you, but Ronald McDonald is not real either. That’s just some regular guy dressed up to look like a fictional character. However, Big Macs are real.