Reply to Protestant denominations who don't take the bible literally

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So I went to Vacation Bible School with my child this last week.  One of the stories that was told was Genesis.  Are there denominations which do not take the bible literally?  The person teaching the bible lessons talked about what happened on year "day".  OK let's say I can accept that each "day" was actually billions of years and that the bible tells stories that are not literally true.  Is there a denomination for me?

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How old is your child?

I was raised in a protestant denomination and never encountered biblical literalists. However, as a young child, I was also taught the story of Genesis "on the first day..." and there wasn't a lot of discussion around what "day" might mean (or even beyond that). It was more coloring animals, cutting out trees, that sort of thing. I was probably 10 or 11 before biblical-stories-as-metaphor became part of my church education, and to be honest that was more likely to happen in sunday school or youth group. VBS was typically much more camp-like and religious education was very surface.

Of course every church is different, but I wouldn't be inclined to pick a church based on its VBS. I'd sit in on several services, visit youth and adult education classes, and otherwise look into the life of the church.[/quote]

OP here- My child is 6, but I sat in with 5 year olds that day.  I was a "counselor" (lead kids from activity to activity) for different kids on different days.  It is the church I attend, but I was surprised by the content of the VBS.  I am not a member and lean more toward the Quakers and Unitarians, but wanted a "family church" for my child to grow up in which has a mixed congregation, and this one does. Many of the churches I might attend everyone is white. Some Methodist churches have a more varied congregation. [/quote]

Listen, your kid is 6.  Even if you are an atheist, if you want to be an educated person in this world you need to understand world cultural and religious traditions.  That includes religious texts.  How would you propose that VBS teachers explain the Bible to 6 year olds?  I think you are making a mountain out of a molehill here and that perhaps, if this is a serious issue for you, there is no Christian denomination that will square with your beliefs.  Either find a different religious tradition or accept that the way you teach children in early childhood is different than the way you teach older children and teenagers.  Or don't send your child to VBS.  Teach them yourself so that you are in control.  [/quote]

The things bout VBS is that it teaches bible stories as if they are factual.  I suggest teaching the kids yourself -- as stories, like the other fairy tales you read to them.  Or take them to a Unitarian church, where they teach [i]about[/i] religions, without expecting people to believe them.[/quote]

And OP or anyone else should listen to your suggestion, because....??[/quote]

Because they present a choice involving a way to learn about religion without being indoctrinated to think only one way is the right way.  Considering there are many religions in the world and that OP said she "leans" unitarian and quaker -- which are very open and non-doctrinaire, it seemed like a worthwhile comment to make. Please tell me you can understand this reasoning.[/quote]

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