Well, Bill, this is an excellent question.
What can I say. Sometimes, we need a little humor.Anna Another A+ Thank You, I would love to see you in a RCIA Class, and I get there,You answer the question and me trying to answer them.====I do not think this is a goodWell, Bill, this is an excellent question.
Genesis was the topic in one of the last few Sunday Bible Classes, I attended at the Baptist Church. The teacher told the class that if we did not accept the creation story literally, we may have a faith issue. Things kinda went downhill after that, since I do not believe the creation story is “literal.” This was one of those last few straws, so to speak.
Genesis reveals the fact that God is our creator and speaks to man’s relationship with God, how sin entered the world, and our need for reconciliation to God–which was ultimately fulfilled in Christ. I think valuable time is wasted in attempts to prove a 6-day creation, leading many children to believe they must choose between God and Science. That should not be.
When it comes to Revelation, I have absolutely no answers. I have been told about Revelation and its prophecies, since my childhood; and quite frankly, it is still a scary Book (probable cause of my fear: a lifetime of Protestant indoctrination.)
Not long ago, I commented on the fact that Hal Lindsey, who co-authored the book entitled, “The Late, Great Planet Earth,” indicated the tribulation and rapture would take place in the 1980’s. This did not come true. Yet, even now, Mr. Lindsey has a television ministry and still discusses prophecy. I’m not sure why he still has an audience, since his track record is a bit shaky in the area of prophecy.
Indeed, many Protestants have serious convictions concerning “tribulation” and “rapture” prophecies, attributed to Revelation. There was a Thread, fairly recently, asking what would happen if the Catholic Church disappeared tomorrow. My answer was that there would probably be a whole lot of Protestants wondering if they missed out on the rapture.
Back to our topic. The skillful use of literalism and allegory, can provide Biblical justification for almost anything. Needless to say, I do not accept Sola Scriptura. I do believe tradition plays a role in interpretation of Scripture.
Yet, before we go too far down the path in judgment of Protestants (keep in mind, I am still a Protestant–though “disenchanted”); I think we must also consider the role of literalism and allegory within the context of historical interpretation or “tradition.”
I guess I am trying to say, I really don’t understand the rules, when it comes to allegory and literalism. What are the rules, and who decides? It seems like people make them up as they go along.
Great question, Bill. Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer-just more questions.
Anna
Anna I hope you do you will make a good one
Bill Pick,
Bill,Well, Bill, this is an excellent question.
Genesis was the topic in one of the last few Sunday Bible Classes, I attended at the Baptist Church. The teacher told the class that if we did not accept the creation story literally, we may have a faith issue. Things kinda went downhill after that, since I do not believe the creation story is “literal.” This was one of those last few straws, so to speak.
Genesis reveals the fact that God is our creator and speaks to man’s relationship with God, how sin entered the world, and our need for reconciliation to God–which was ultimately fulfilled in Christ. I think valuable time is wasted in attempts to prove a 6-day creation, leading many children to believe they must choose between God and Science. That should not be.
When it comes to Revelation, I have absolutely no answers. I have been told about Revelation and its prophecies, since my childhood; and quite frankly, it is still a scary Book (probable cause of my fear: a lifetime of Protestant indoctrination.)
Not long ago, I commented on the fact that Hal Lindsey, who co-authored the book entitled, “The Late, Great Planet Earth,” indicated the tribulation and rapture would take place in the 1980’s. This did not come true. Yet, even now, Mr. Lindsey has a television ministry and still discusses prophecy. I’m not sure why he still has an audience, since his track record is a bit shaky in the area of prophecy.
Indeed, many Protestants have serious convictions concerning “tribulation” and “rapture” prophecies, attributed to Revelation. There was a Thread, fairly recently, asking what would happen if the Catholic Church disappeared tomorrow. My answer was that there would probably be a whole lot of Protestants wondering if they missed out on the rapture.
Back to our topic. The skillful use of literalism and allegory, can provide Biblical justification for almost anything. Needless to say, I do not accept Sola Scriptura. I do believe tradition plays a role in interpretation of Scripture.
Yet, before we go too far down the path in judgment of Protestants (keep in mind, I am still a Protestant–though “disenchanted”); I think we must also consider the role of literalism and allegory within the context of historical interpretation or “tradition.”
I guess I am trying to say, I really don’t understand the rules, when it comes to allegory and literalism. What are the rules, and who decides? It seems like people make them up as they go along.
Great question, Bill. Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer-just more questions.
Anna
ROFL
Sadly, a lot of them “make” the Bible back’em up in their beliefs… no matter how nonbiblical they may be.
Well, I think protestant might ask, why do the same thing. We all want to try to understand Christ’s teachings and some seem figurative and others seem literal. I might ask, in the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man… is Abraham’s Bosom a real place?
A lot of Protestants (and Christians in general) aren’t aware of the fact that the first three chapters of Genesis are poetic in form. That definitely changes how you approach the text. Poetry gets a much different interpretive treatment than a narrative that is a historical account, and many people look at the first three chapters of Genesis as if it were just that.
The study and reflect with the Scriptures, they pray with and come to deeply love our Lord … [some of them end up Catholic and I personally know one such man who is now a Catholic Priest 
] One of my favorite scripture professors - while I was working on my masters- was a Lutheran [a Dead Sea Scholar - he had just returned from a year sabatical from the university spent translating and working with the Dead Sea Scrolls when I had him as an instructor] It sure is easy to do…