Would you want to live forever?

[okiman]

This is not my interpretation of the bible ,but the bibles interpretation of it's self. To understand Gods word a person can't let themselves be guided by false religious traditions or ideas .If your church teaches you that there is an immortal soul, you will bring such a philosophy into the bible when you read it,this would then taint your understanding of it.
If a person really want's to know the 'Truth ..that will set them free', they have to do away with all their previous misconception and allow the bible to speak for itself.
The only people truly qualified to teach the bible ,are those who live by it !Obviously , the mainline religions of this world are not in a position to do so as they regularly disregard and water down it's teachings.Many of them say as you say ,that we shouldn't take the bible literally, and this is where they fall flat !
'What does Gods word say?' not 'What do I,or my priest/pastor think ?' is the important question.
Some may say taking such verses as Genesis chapter 1 where it talks about the creation in 7 days.But if you look at Chp 2:4, you see that all the days are referred to as 1 day. Obviously the bible isn't referring to 24 hrs in this case ,but simply to a period of time
which could be any length.It is not unusual for a person to refer to his 'grandfathers day' meaning that persons entire lifetime.So ,too, the bible often uses the term 'day'to describe an extended period of time.(2 Peter 3:8)Thus the days of Genesis chapter 1 could reasonably be thousands of years in length.
This is what is meant by letting the bible interpret itself !

 

[booger]

The Bible is just a book. Every culture, every civilization, has some written work that they claim to be inspired by what they consider to some superior force. But they are all written by men.

I'm all for people believing interpretations of the Bible such as yours. Language is just words and definitions that humans have created, but as long as people consider them to be more than that.... all the better. It's a nice control mechanism for the masses. I think the correct term would be 'Sheep'.

And no inanimate object such as the Bible can interpret itself. It has no awareness of itself. Your ideas concerning that are occuring in your head only.

 

[BackDoc]

I don't have a problem with people believing the Bible should be interpreted literally. I do not believe that it is a sin to do one or the other. Nor do I believe that either practice is right or wrong. It is when people assume that I am incorrect when not interpreting it literally that I defend my position with logic and sound reasoning. I will do so at this time.

The people who interpret the Bible literally have their particular point of view. And all too often, to them, those who do not share this point of view are incorrect. This is starting to be the case in this discussion. You interpret the Bible as you see it...word for word. Yet there were a number of different authors of the different books of the Bible, they interpreted what they saw slightly differently. This is why the same story (as told by different witnesses) in the Bible is told each time with slightly different wording and description. If the Bible was meant to be taken literally, why is the same event described over and over? Does this not make sense? It would place the reader at a distinct disadvantage for discovering the truth about the Bible. So from my vantage point, to interpret the Bible (in its entirety) literally is to be in conflict with the realities as experienced by the individual authors. I do not consider this falling flat, nor do I consider it a shortcoming. To assume that the Bible is not subject to individual interpretation is contradictory. If not, then why not move to Jordan where the imagery and locale are directly applicable to your daily life? We know the events in the Bible took place in what is now considered to be the middle east. Yet we apply God's principles to our daily living in other countries at least 2,000 years later. If the Bible was only meant to be taken literally word for word, then whatever applied at THAT time was ONLY good then and there...not here and now. Since I do not believe this and feel the Bible is a LIVING document (meaning that it is applicable to today's society as well) it is up for individual interpretation. Now what I must concede is that I do not take just anyone's word for what the interpretations mean. I interpret the Bible to the best of my comprehension and apply it to every day life. However, you and I both do this when we even READ the Bible...someone else translated it...probably Shakespear (King James Version). Therefore unless we actually were directly part of the interpretation process, then we cannot know EXACTLY the word-ology that may or may not have been lost in the translation. If this is the case then we are all guilty of assuming the English versions are to be taken literally. Granted that this is not possible for everyone to individually translate the original books of the Bible, we must assume that the scholars in old time and modern have done their jobs properly. So now we have to live the word of the Bible so that we can interpret it. We cannot faultily assume that everyone will interpret it the same way. Comprehension and subsequent interpretation depends on grasp of language and vocabulary inflection.To think that this is even remotely possible is ludicrous. Therefore, it is my firm believe that the Bible as we know it was meant to be applied on the basis of our interpretation. This is how God made our brains work. Reading the Bible and applying it to everyday living requires the following process (as does all form of learning):

1. Education--The process of actually being able to read.
2. Learning--the mind comprehends what our vision takes in.
3. Knowledge--what is stored in our brains from reading.
4. Wisdom--applying what he know to our daily life.

The crucial thing is that this 4-step process which every normal human brain undergoes is dependent upon individual interpretation. I do not think God would subject us to sin by virtue of inability to comprehend on the basis of neurophysiological limitation. That would be an inborn error of omission. I think God knows everything about us, since He allowed the book to be written. I don't personally think He would allow a book to be written if it was not possible for His children to follow it. If the Bible was meant to be taken literally, then there is no room for error in interpretation based on the 4-step learning process. Remember, Christians DO NOT worship the Bible...we worship Jesus Christ...if we place the utmost importance in literal interpretation of the Bible then perhaps we are holding the Bible in greater regards than the Son of God.

So therefore, this is my reason for believing that the Bible is a guide rather than a legal document.

 

[Sebass67]

yeah

 

[FitFossil]

Only until I can't drive or control my bladder, whichever comes first.

 

[Spruceman]

Forever if in good health and comfort. Not at all if in irreversable pain, suffering, and gross disability.

 

[BatZgirl]

NO WAY

Can you just imagine being here forever, old, wrinkled and wetting yourself? No thanks Maybe Id like to live longer as a young person but still wouldnt we get tired of life?

Just a thought
BTW Im NOT suicidal

 

[bunnymt]

I would like to live forever, but not as a vampire or anything like that. Why wouldnt someone want to live forever?

 

[Testoterone Tom]

What's all of this IF stuff?? I AM going to live forever.

 

[flguy83]

I think being really old would be great, assuming you had all the answers for keeping in perfect shape. Like when your 20? Not getting old and slow just smarter and faster would be great. Now when you fall in love with a mortal and live and watch her die, then wait years to overcome and do it all over. That would really tear apart my mind and soul.