Why is it so important to some Christians that Bible stories be factual history? I don't think the writer’s intent was to be factual as much as it was to deliver a message. Why is so hard for some Christians to except that the possibility that the Bible is an allegory?

You have to remember many people didnt believe in many places, events or characters in the Bible...there have been some very debatable findings and some that apparently confirm some things people have denied all along...Many people believe the Bible is simply complete "fiction"- people need to look up what fiction is- and if it relates to the Bible then they are very misunderstood. The Bible needs to stand up for itself- people are EXPECTING proof , they are expecting the historical events and features in the Bible to be real- oh and its not the Christians that are seeking the importance of Biblical History- its the challengers and skeptics that are doing that- but the Bible simply cannot be slammed or put down as a useless book- if it wasnt for the Bible MANY archaelogical findings would have likely not be found and much of history would still be possibly lost.

Weather literal or metaphorical, the bible's stories can be took either way. Metaphorically, the bible is beyond its years are brilliant. Literally, you can critisize it, science will always critisize the bible. But nevertheless, some christians take it as factual, but factual can differ. Rastas use the bible and don't take it in the same way as christians do. They believe Hale Selassie is the second comming of christ. That's the beauty of the bible, it can be took different ways, and the message of love is still the same.

Science doesn't criticize the Bible. Science is just fact and theory. An archeologist finds a city in the dessert it is just that until enough evidence is found to identify it.

Whether literal or figurative, the message is still the same. I don't think CHristians have a pathological need to prove every aspect of the Bible to be complete historical proof. Some is historical fact, I'm sure. Some is allegorical. Which is which is a different matter.

Take Genesis 1-3 for example - i tend to believe that is figurative, not to be taken literally. The message of Genesis 1-3 is the same though, regardless whether it is real or not. Who knows though, it might be real. I might be wrong and it is a completely accurate and real account of the creation of our world. But in all seriousness...... today, how many thousands of years in the future, does it really affect us either way whether it's real or figurative?

The message is the same, regardless of how literal it is.......

Regards, PA

I'm always amazed when i read the bible is a message of love, 'conditional' love it has yet to go beyond that, IMO....