If The Bible Is True, Why Are It's Books Referred To As "Stories" (churches, priest)

[dorado0359]

The "Story" of Adam and Eve, The "Story" of the Flood, The "Story" of David and Goiath, etc. For quite some time I have wondered why books in the Bible are referred to as "stories", especially since they are suppose to be true accounts of Gods creation and human history. Everyone from the layman to the Priest and Bishops refer to them as "stories". Also, if I recall correctly, I believe there was a movie made years ago called The Greatest "story" Ever Told. Seems a bit confusing if you ask me.

[nay624]

Not everyone believes the BIBLE to be true....
Some, if not most DO believe they are 'just stories'...

some people cant understand how it can be true so they say its not.

[coosjoaquin]

plus many people realize that the message contained in the stories is just as valid regardless of whether the story is true or not. Pinocchio may never have existed but the tale still teaches us to follow our conscience.

[I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA]

Originally Posted by dorado0359

The "Story" of Adam and Eve, The "Story" of the Flood, The "Story" of David and Goiath, etc. For quite some time I have wondered why books in the Bible are referred to as "stories", especially since they are suppose to be true accounts of Gods creation and human history. Everyone from the layman to the Priest and Bishops refer to them as "stories". Also, if I recall correctly, I believe there was a movie made years ago called The Greatest "story" Ever Told. Seems a bit confusing if you ask me.

Just because they are referred to as stories does not mean they are not true. I believe that they are true. I could tell you the story of my childhood, and it's true

[ainulinale]

story: Definition, Synonyms and Much More from Answers.com

As you can see, the definition of story is simply an account of something regardless of whether it is true or not.

[Reads2MUCH]

I believe the Bible would make more sense to people if we were allowed to read the complete version. Many don't know that something like 10 or 12 gospels were left out of the Bible we read today. The Catholic Church selected what gospels we should see and what we should not. Why can we not read those hidden books of the Bible. Could it be there are things written there that would totally change the teachings of Christianity? I don't know, but I believe one of the books left out was supposed to be the actual gospel of Jesus Christ! Now if there is one book that should be included in the Bible, I would think it was that one! That said, I am not exactly a Christian, though I was raised in a Southern Baptist home and went to church for many years. I do believe Jesus was a holy man, who came with a message of peace and love for all mankind. I find that the churches I have been to don't really seem to hold to that mantra. There is an awful lot of hypocrisy and hate, and that is certainly not what Christ had in mind. As to why the books are referred to as stories. Probably the same reason we call news reports "news stories" It is just a figure of speech. I also believe the Bible itself has been severely tampered with over the years, especially when it comes to women. I just don't buy the whole "its Eve's fault we don't live in the garden" crap. Sounds like at some point in history some man wanted to put women on a lower level than men. Oh, and I am a married man, not a female.

[Towhee]

Originally Posted by ainulinale

story: Definition, Synonyms and Much More from Answers.com

As you can see, the definition of story is simply an account of something regardless of whether it is true or not.

Thank you for posting this link. I have been thinking: " What is wrong with calling them 'stories' " ? An old saying is, " That is the story of my life". It is not referring to fiction.

[PanTerra]

I watched a movie last night that was based on a true story.

[ainulinale]

Originally Posted by Reads2MUCH

I believe the Bible would make more sense to people if we were allowed to read the complete version. Many don't know that something like 10 or 12 gospels were left out of the Bible we read today. The Catholic Church selected what gospels we should see and what we should not.

Actually, it was the bishop of the Eastern church, Athanasius of Alexandria who first composed the list of books that make up the New Testament canon we have today. That list gained popularity before being settled at the ecumenical Third Council of Carthage in 397 A.D. This was well before the Roman Catholic Church of today as it was before the Great Schism dividing Eastern and Western Christianity. Those who put the canon together were primarily concerned with apostolic authorship--if a book wasn't written by an apostle or one closely associated with an apostle, then it wasn't considered.

Originally Posted by Reads2MUCH

I do believe Jesus was a holy man, who came with a message of peace and love for all mankind. I find that the churches I have been to don't really seem to hold to that mantra. There is an awful lot of hypocrisy and hate, and that is certainly not what Christ had in mind.

I don't think there is a person alive who isn't a hypocrite or at least was one at one point in time.

Originally Posted by Reads2MUCH

I also believe the Bible itself has been severely tampered with over the years, especially when it comes to women. I just don't buy the whole "its Eve's fault we don't live in the garden" crap. Sounds like at some point in history some man wanted to put women on a lower level than men. Oh, and I am a married man, not a female.

Well, the Bible doesn't actually place the blame on Eve, it places most of the blame on the Serpent while holding both Adam and Eve accountable. In fact, there are parts of the Bible that highlight Adam as the main cause of sin while ignoring what Eve did. In theology, our sinful nature is traced back to Adam, not Eve, as Adam was meant to be the representative of humanity...Jesus is now our representative, thus, he is the "second Adam." The Bible does not seem to hold women as inferior to men, simply holding that women have not been designed for the role of familial leadership.

[Reads2MUCH]

The Catholic Church existed before modern christianity. And actually the commonly excepted version of the bible used today was assembled by King James. He rewrote a few things in order to make it ok for him to get a divorce. And contrary to what you may have read, no one man put together the Bible.