Should we interpret the Bible literally?

[doubtingthomas]

(SwampFox;5961)
I could be wrong here, but I'm pretty sure I am correct in saying that abiogenesis has yet to be proven. There's enough speculation to around in this area, but no real consensus exists.
While there is still speculation, the framework is definitely there. It centers mostly around small vesicles containing only RNA. Here is an example of some of the current literature.

The Emergence of Competition Between Model ProtocellsIrene A. Chen,1,2 Richard W. Roberts,3 Jack W. Szostak1The transition from independent molecular entities to cellular structures with integrated behaviors was a crucial aspect of the origin of life. We show that simple physical principles can mediate a coordinated interaction between genome and compartment boundary, independent of any genomic functions beyond self-replication. RNA, encapsulated in fatty acid vesicles, exerts an osmotic pressure on the vesicle membrane that drives the uptake of additional membrane components, leading to membrane growth at the expense of relaxed vesicles, which shrink. Thus, more efficient RNA replication could cause faster cell growth, leading to the emergence of Darwinian evolution at the cellular level. ​

 

[HammerStone]

Right, but it's only a hypothesis and not even to the theoretical point there. Quite frankly it takes more faith for me to believe in that then it would for me to believe in the Bible.

 

[doubtingthomas]

Then I will give you another example of why I do not think the bible should be taken literallyDeuteronomy13:6 If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;13:7 Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;13:8 Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:13:9 But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.When was the last time you stoned somebody because they were critical of your religion?

 

[HammerStone]

Consider the context here. This was someone of the tribes of Israel and not man in general. This is one of the ordinances that was nailed to the cross.Colossians 2:14-23Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.Keep in mind that this does not address commandments of which Jesus had in mind when he said I come not to change a jot of the law in Matthew 5. All of the ordinances are gone, but not the actual law itself which still stands; such terrible (sarcastically, here) things as "Thou shalt not kill" and so on that have found their way into modern law.You don't stone such a person as above for the some reason you don't stone a homosexual. God will take care of them when the time comes with audience in front of Him. Someone who does the above will suffer the much worse spiritual death.

 

[doubtingthomas]

Mathew 5:44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;This one is probably my favorite.