When we were five years old, we were given explanations for things like "where do babies come from" and "what are stars" that suited our capability to understand.  As we grew up, many lessons were taught with stories - like the Hare and the Tortoise (speed does not always win) and Little Red Riding Hood (don't be too trusting).  And even when we got older, many subjects were too complex so explanations of calculus, relativity, the origin of the universe had to be simplified.   So if we go back in time to where most people were illiterate, we would expect explanations to be simplified and/or analogies.  So it's not surprising that the Bible is exactly like that - especially the Old Testament.

In fact why would we expect the Bible to be a technical treatise on how the world was created?  Why would we expect it to have any advanced physics?  Leaving aside the fact that there was no knowledge of advanced physics thousands of years ago, there was also no-one who would understand what was being said if physics was quoted.  If the Bible originated from God (or for that matter an advanced species come to help us on our way), then you would expect simplified stories that uneducated people would understand.  Further, why would anyone today, in their right mind, accept the Bible as literally true?  Do these same people believe that the Tortoise and the Hare really had a race?

Even the New Testament is full of "parables".  In many cases, it is made clear that these are parables or analogies - but many of the other "tales" are probably intended as lessons to be learned too.

But the problem for believers is the question of where does one draw the line?  Which things are parables or analogies or stories told to uneducated people and which things are literally true?  It's like a well researched novel - a fictional story set in a believable world.   Some things are true - although expressed simplistically - other things are true and yet other things are plain fiction.  When you have finished a work of fiction, a novel,  you don't immediately declare it to be true word for word.  But some people believe the bible to be literally true - word for word.  And that's "because it's the word of god".  How do they know that?  Because someone told them so and they believe it!  I think they weren't paying attention to the story of Little Red Riding hood - don't believe everything you hear.

| More...