When someone takes a literalist approach to the Bible, they tend to assume that every word of the Bible was written to be taken at face value and applied to our lives in a very rigid way. However, the Bible is a complex and multifaceted text that was written in different languages, in different cultural contexts, and over a span of thousands of years.
Therefore, taking a literalist approach can lead to a simplistic and reductionist view of the Bible, where the nuances and complexities of the text are ignored or misunderstood. This can also lead to a rigid and dogmatic understanding of God and the world, which can be limiting and exclusionary.
In contrast, taking a more nuanced and contextual approach to the Bible can allow for a deeper understanding of its message and a more faithful interpretation. This means considering the historical and cultural context in which each book of the Bible was written, as well as the literary genres, metaphors, and rhetorical strategies employed by the authors.
By doing so, we can gain a richer understanding of the Bible’s overarching themes and messages, such as love, justice, and compassion, which can be applied in a way that is relevant and meaningful to our lives today.
Curious Christian 