If you believe that the Bible is the literal word of God, why?

I like what Mona wrote, and am in agreement with her. People who talk about how the Bible is like a game of "telephone", passed down and translated over and over again... I don't think they understand how the Bible was preserved, or the amazing accuracy from what I have in my lap, and what the original authors wrote. I know books like Josh McDowells, "More than a Carpenter", and "Evidence that demands a Verdict" cover some of that in more detail.

But let me say this Jim. I believe the Bible is the Word of God, because Jesus is my Savior. We could talk about Bible evidence, the scientific claims, evolution vrs creation, Biblical prophecy, and the such (including things Mona referred to in brief). All of that has it's proper place and I think is very compelling (more so than most of the garbage out there claiming to be truth, and intellectual, and what not). But at the end of the day, it is the Living Christ Jesus, who rules this world, and has the power and authority to forgive sin, or to judge... He is the reason why I believe. How do you know red is red? How do you know you can trust your own thoughts? You just do, because you are a living human being. Once God makes some one born again through the gospel of Christ Jesus (finding forgiveness of sins in trusting what Jesus did on the Cross, mainly taking the wrath of God for sin), then, as natural as a baby longs for milk, so the child of God longs for the Word of God.

I don't know how "fundamental" that answer is... but it has been orthodoxy for God's people since Moses penned the Torah.

I'm assuming that what you mean is, why we don't take the Bible as allegory?

An allegory is:

1. a. The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form.

b. A story, picture, or play employing such representation. John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Herman Melville's Moby Dick are allegories.

2. A symbolic representation

And though the Bible has some stories in it, and some that are specifically stated to be allegorical (parables, etc.), and they are used allegorically, that is not what the whole Bible is composed of. The majority of it does not read allegorically.

If you are asking only concerning the stories of the Bible -- whether they are allegorical or literal (historical), they too, in many cases, don't read like allegory. Many of them cross reference the characters of the other stories; allegories don't generally do that.

On the other hand, God has guided the events of history so that some of the stories in the Bible have allegorical meaning that can be found in the historical events. For instance, God freed Israel from the bondage of Egypt is allegorically interpreted to be like freeing humanity from the bondage of sin. Yet this is not a proof of allegory, but of the power of God.

If however, you are asking how we know that the Bible is inspired by God, then it is because we (at least some of us) have proven it.

God's Word, the Bible declares that we should prove all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21); and that includes whether or not God exists, whether or not the Bible is his Word, etc..

God also presents evidence by which we can prove that the Bible is his Word; he has given us prophecies that have been fulfilled.

Isaiah 46:9-10 -- Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure

That is something no other holy book does.

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I think its the ideals of God, but not the literal words of God.. Why? cause Jesus or Moses, didnt have a scribe following them writing down verbatem everything God said to them at any given moment.. The bible was written down hundreds of years later, by stories from people handed down hearsay and memorized.. So it was not literal in that sense.. Things change from person to person.. Havent you ever played that game as a child sitting in a circle of a group and said something to the child next to you, and by the time it was passed through 10 children, the message got totally mixed up and changed as the last child said it?.. well this is the same.. The message through time changed as through the centuries.. It cannot be literal after so many years...

This is a long answer type question. so i suggest that u check out this page addressing the topic and i will give u some of the speaking points it discusses.....

1.the unity of the bible, it is 66 individual books written in 3 continents in 3 different languages over a period of 1500 years by over 40 different authors but the continuity is perfect. it doesnt once contradict itself. how can that be if it wasnt record of truth?

2. the sheer number of explicitly detailed and then fullfilled prophecies in the bible. unlike nostradomas whos prophecies (however accurate) are extremely vague and open to interpretation.

3. the power and authority of it. the sheer number of lives this book has changed can only be attributed to it being a divine and holy book.

anyway there are a multitude of other reasons listed on this site.

Christian Fundamentalist is a complete contradiction in terms!!

CHRISTIAN – A follower or believer in Jesus.

FUNDAMENTALIST One who believes the Bible is literally true and must be followed exactly.

Therefore they are followers of the bible and not Jesus making them non Christians!!!

But worse is to follow it also makes them ideologists.

IDEOLOGY An idea that is false or held for the wrong reasons but is believed with such conviction as to be irrefutable.

So Christians have a loving and forgiving god and fundamentalist - well - Just are not Christians!!!!

Yes the Bible is the Word of God. With out the Holy Spirit it would never have been written. With out the Holy Spirit a believer would not understand it either.

Protestant Fundamentalism is a recent school of Protestantism in general and is only roughly one hundred years old. The founders of Fundamentalism display no real knowledge of the bible or its history and development. Most of the proponents of Fundamentalism I've met or talked with seemingly have no knowledge of the bible, nor knowledge of Fundamentalism for that matter.

It is the Word of God.

God inspired people by the Holy Ghost to write. God is able to work miracles and wonders, if your going to believe in God at all you should be able to believe he can do anything.

To those who dont take the whole thing literally: Why only take part of it literally? Every single word in that book is there for our learning. If it wasnt meant to be taken literally, why would it be there? If your only going to take part of it literally, then you shouldnt take any of it literally.

Early in my life, I gave my heart to God and asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior; I nearly drowned when I was about 14 yrs. old. While I was drowning, I prayed and ask Jesus to rescue me; he did. He proved himself to me. Suddenly, I was able to swim to safety and didn't go into shock, although I couldn't stop trembling for a while. As soon as I was able to go to church, I did, and publicly went forward in the service to declare my allegiance to my Lord. Since then, God has proved himself over and over to me in numerous ways and circumstances. I've been through high waters, and hot burning fire. Been through Job's trials and still going strong. Not lookin' back. My journey on earth will soon be over. Whoooooo hoooo!!

I personally prefer "inspired" word of God. God didn't write it, but without him, none of it could have been written, except maybe the genealogy chapters.