[One-eyed Jack]

Re: Metaphors in the Bible?

There might be some rules we can work out for figuring what is meant metaphorically and what is meant literally, Narrowpathy.

1. As Unfalsifiable correctly points out, metaphor-type expressions (metaphor, analogy, simile, and -- is there one I forgot? -- Hypotenuse?) often use like or some similar word, or cleverly imply that something has qualities that parallel something else. So we can look for give-away words. I just got back from the dentist, where I got two temporary crowns installed, and I'm too shook-up to think of proper Bible quotes. I'll just make up some examples:

So a great needle was brought to the gums of Morab, and it seemed as long and cruel as a war-javelin of the Hittites.

And Morab found that in his terror his bowels had become like unto the North Sea gasfields.

Then did the demon begin to grind the teeth of Morab, and Lo! The grinding lasted seven hundred hours, and the comfort of it was as a vile pestle crushing fine china and an oral jackhammer breaking pavements and a she-bear gone mad inside Morab's face.

2. But often the key words are lacking. I suggest some logical tests might be in order.

A: If liberal Christians insist that the passage is metaphorical, then God meant it literally.

B: If the passage encourages slaveholding, executions by stoning, keeping the darkies down, or damning people to Hell, God meant it literally.

C: If the passage refers to dung, piss, privy members, or secret parts, God meant it literally and you better pay close attention!

D: On the other hand, if the passage appears to weaken God's laws, His wrath, or His capacity for vengeance, He probably meant it metaphorically.

Excuse me, the lidocaine is wearing off. I am going to take a handful of aspirin and have a lay-down. You guys please think of some more logical rules for determining when God is using a figure of speech and when He is being literal.

~~ OEJ

[narrowpathy]

Re: Metaphors in the Bible

Since you asked so nicely, I will.

In the future, think before you post.

Well, then don't move it.

[Pastor Ezekiel]

Re: Metaphors in the Bible

Well, move it then...

Since you asked so nicely, I will.

In the future, think before you post.

[narrowpathy]

Re: Metaphors in the Bible

Well, move it then...

[Juliette]

Re: Metaphors in the Bible

This thread is totally inappropriate in the False Religions and Cults section of our forums.

I couldn't agree more Mr Smith. The 'General Church Fellowship' or the 'Christian Help Forum' would be a place more appropriate.

[Ahimaaz Smith]

Re: Metaphors in the Bible

So, how do you (un-saved, hell-bound, God-hating) folks decide what passages from the Bible are literal and what passages are mere metaphors?

This thread is totally inappropriate in the False Religions and Cults section of our forums.

[Unfalsifiable]

Re: Metaphors in the Bible

Well the wiping Jerusalem like a dish one is actually a similie, which is given away by the "as a".

[Juliette]

Re: Metaphors in the Bible

What I was thinking. How can we (mankind) know what God has meant as a metaphore in the bible?

It's like, i am saying something and someone else is guessing that i meant someone else instead of what i said without asking what i wanted to say.

Seems like confusing to me.

What is more important? The word as it is or what some are wanting to see in it?

[Brother V]

Re: Metaphors in the Bible

1 Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

I don't know about you oh Brother, but MY nipples are part and parcel of a temple of the Holy Spirit. You cannot say that ising some part of the temple is debauching myself. Now, how am I supposed to use that part called nipples?

My favorite metaphor was just covered in our Bible In a Year study.

2 Kings 21:13 And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.

God takes Jerusalem... out of the way.

YIC
V

[Unfalsifiable]

Re: Metaphors in the Bible

What about the appendix? I personally, unfalsifiably believe God gave us an appendix to give us a part of the body which can get ill painfully, and isn't easy/simple to remove.

There are unfalsifiable answers to all of the parts of the body in terms of God's reasons for them being there, you can make them up yourself.

[narrowpathy]

Re: Metaphors in the Bible

I wonder what the purpose of clitoris is...

[Unfalsifiable]

Re: Metaphors in the Bible

God gave men nipples as to not alienate women. How strange they must of thought their bodies were if men did not look as similar as they do. They already have vaginas, i mean, that's gotta be confusing enough.

[narrowpathy]

Re: Metaphors in the Bible

So, how do you (un-saved, hell-bound, God-hating) folks decide what passages from the Bible are literal and what passages are mere metaphors?

Actually, my original quesion hasn't been answered... Father Martin, maybe? or Roberta?

[Sacha-DG]

Re: Metaphors in the Bible

All male and female parts of the body are made form the same tissue. Men have breast tissue, but not much. In women, the hormone oestrogen makes the breat tissue grow and develop mammary glands. Much like the clitoris and the penis. They are both made of the same tissue, but testosterone in men causes the clitoral tissue to develop into a penis. This is why hermaphrodites can be explained by having too much tesosterone.

[narrowpathy]

Re: Metaphors in the Bible

Jesus is already annoyed that you keep asking these ridiculous questions. I mean, what kind of a man worries about his nipples? Are you a queer or something?

Oh Pastor,

I don't worry about my nipples but about my Salvation. If God wanted me to use my nipples and I don't use them, then I am not doing His Will.
If God didn't want me to use those parts of the temple of the Holy Spirit, then what did He put them in that temple for?