Are there any Christian denominations that DON'T take the Bible literally?

[Heather in NC]

Originally Posted by dmmosher

They are not equal. However with such overwhelming success and support of books like The God Delusion, we know that more and more people think it's okay to call those who believe the Bible literally as "deluded" and/or "unintelligent".

To the OP, you might be interested in Already Gone

Thank you for the book suggestion!!! It's interesting to me because I am well-educated with multiple college degrees and I take the Bible literally. So I don't buy into the sentiments of books like The God Delusion.

[KarenNC]

Originally Posted by priscilla

Especially since my dh and I have strong UU leanings and family members who are UU. I still think it is an option for Christians though even though UU's are non-creedal since UU's are free to be Christian. It is not everyone's cup of tea though

An option, yes. A Christian denomination, no. The terminology raises quite different expectations. The way UU functions isn't the easiest to wrap one's head around if one is coming from a Christian background (speaking from experience), so I believe the distinction is very important.

[momofkhm]

I went to one Episcopal church that said many stories in the Bible are figurative and then I've gone to another who said they were literal. It's the difference between a fundamentalist parish and a not fundamentalist parish.

[Shari]

Than you so much to those who've replied! I appreciate every response and have put many of the book suggestions on hold at the local library.

Where I live is overwhelmingly Southern Baptist, and ALL of my homeschooling friends believe a very strict, literal interpretation of the Bible. To answer Heather in NC specifically, I feel like I have to check my brain in the parking lot when I must disregard my education and belief in science, my background in literary theory, and most church history I've read in order to listen to (and supposedly support) my pastor's message each week.

My dh was raised Methodist and he has never taken a literal stance on Biblical stories. BUT, all our friends, our small group, and our h.s. co-op take a fundamentalist stance and look at me like I have two heads when I say I don't believe young earth theory or that dinosaurs didn't die in a worldwide flood. It's really hard to be the odd duck. I have begun to wonder if I can actually *be* a Christian and not take the Bible as literal truth. In my neck of the woods, those are mutually exclusive.

Thanks again for the opposing views.

[Mandy in TN]

I'll probably regret posting this as I haven't read replies; however, I think your list would be shorter if you asked for a list of Christian denominations in which young earth is a tenet of faith.

Mandy

[Mandy in TN]

Originally Posted by momofkhm

I went to one Episcopal church that said many stories in the Bible are figurative and then I've gone to another who said they were literal. It's the difference between a fundamentalist parish and a not fundamentalist parish.

For many churches young earth is not a tenet of faith, but a particular parish may be.

[Renee in FL]

Ann, I am sorry that is your experience in the Catholic Church. Maybe the difference for me is I did *not* grow up Catholic - I grew up Methodist and then was fundamentalist Baptist.

I was 28 years old before I found out Christ died on the cross for my sins, not just to open the door for the good people. I have told some of my very good Catholic relatives that and they think that is preposterous.

That is so hard for me to understand - was the Mass different then? I have only been in a few parishes (and most of them less orthodox), but they all have used the Liturgy (reading through the Bible every 3 years), the Stations of the Cross, the Nicene and Apostles' Creed, etc. All of those things point to Christ!

From what I understand, the American Church basically fell apart theologically after Vatican II and it is slowly finding its way back to the Church and its teachings.

[Ellie]

Originally Posted by HFClassicalAcademy

Yes, I agree with you...which is why I stated that Catholics do not take the Bible literally. Just keeping my answer as simple as possible!

Liz in NC

But I didn't say that Catholics don't take the Bible literarlly. They do; they also believe the Traditions of the Church.

[elfgivas@yahoo.com]

in my experience in seminary and in various parishes since, most denominations seem to have a part that believe in "literal scripture" and a part that believe in "inspired scripture".... and most points in between. all consider themselves to be scripturally based, they just have a different understanding of the nature and authority of scripture.

the conservative branches of many denominations often have more beliefs in common than they do with the liberal branches of their same denomination. this is sometimes also true between faiths, not just denominations. (ie. liberal jews, christians, muslims and hindus often have a much more similar belief system than they do with the fundamentalist branches of their own faiths. the same often holds true for the fundamentalist folks of faith.)

so we could find united methodists with a literal understanding of scripture and united methodists with an inspired understanding of scripture. same for most denominations.

some denominations are centred farther to the left or the right of the spectrum (eg. the uniting church of australia, the united church of canada, the united church of christ in the states tend to have the heart a little to the left, although i have experienced congregations in all three that are definitely far right of centre).

hth,
ann

[StephanieZ]

Originally Posted by Shari

Not looking to stir up a debate here, but I am wondering if there are any Christian denominations that do not take the Bible as literal truth. By this I mean that the church does not teach as absolute truth the 6-day creation, a worldwide flood, etc. Is there such a thing as a Christian church that sees Genesis as more figurative than historical, but still teaches Jesus as divine?

It may just be my geographical location that I am dealing with primarily fundamentalist denominations, but more and more I feel that I've got to leave my brain in the parking lot to enter the church building

Of course!!!!!!!

Most "mainline" old protestant denominations have many (not necessarily all) churches that are this way! Episcopal, United Church of Christ, Quaker. . . are a few.