What do you believe, Aunt Elizabeth?' 'I believe. . . I am…
““What do you believe, Aunt Elizabeth?' 'I believe. . . I am comfortable with reading the Bible figuratively rather than literally. For instance, I think the six days in Genesis are not literal days, but different periods of creation, so that it took many thousands --- or hundreds of thousands of years --- to create. It does not demean God; it simply gives Him more time to build this extraordinary world.' 'And the ichthyosaurus and plesiosaurus?' 'They are creatures from long, long ago. They remind us that the world is changing. Of course it is. I can see it change when there are landslips at Lyme that alter the shoreline. It changes when there are earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and floods. And why shouldn't it?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Believing the Bible can be metaphorical allows reconciling faith with scientific evidence, seeing creation as a long process rather than literal days.
In simple terms: Faith and science can coexist through metaphorical interpretation.
Key Takeaway
Embrace flexible reading of sacred texts.
Themes
faith
science
interpretation
creation
change
Mood
thoughtful
open‑minded
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal belief discussions
- educational talks
- interfaith dialogues
- science classrooms
- environmental debates
Key Concepts
metaphor
theology
geology
evolution
Questions to Reflect On
- How does metaphorical reading affect personal faith?
- What evidence supports non‑literal creation timelines?
A Different Perspective
Literalist views may reject scientific findings, causing conflict.