Literal interpretation of the Old Testament? — Section 36
An atheist asks how one can accept the ‘miracles’ of the Old Testament!
An atheist who has joined the conversation:
How, gentlemen, can you and your people seriously accept the Old Testament as it stands today? For example, the story of the creation of the world, the story of Adam and Eve, along with some of the other fantastic stories such as Jonah and the whale and Job with all his sufferings? How can seriously believe such things?
Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Yes, my friend, we do accept them. We read in the scriptures where the Holy Ghost led the apostles to the truth, and with God all things are possible. For instance, we read in 2 Peter 2:16 that Peter, an apostle of the Lord, believed the account in Numbers 22:28 where an ass spoke to Balaam. He believed it and taught it. We find where Christ believed the story of Jonah and the whale (Jonah 1:17). See Matthew 12:40. We learn that Paul, who learned the Gospel of jesus Christ, believed in the account of Adam and Eve as recorded in 1 Timothy 13:15. If I profess to believe in the Christian disciples and in the gospel of the Lord, I must firmly believe on their teachings. They were chosen by the Lord and taught by him. It is a requirement of the followers of Christ to believe in his words, as did his apostles. Yes, there are many events and miracles that defy description, but our faith will carry us until our understanding is enlightened.
Click here to return to the Trial
Click here to return to the Challenging Questions index
Click here to return to the Main Menu page