--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Strange as it may seem, the Bible played…" description: "\"“Strange as it may seem, the Bible played a positive role in the development of science. … Had it not been for the rise of the literal interpretation o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/steve-kumar-32203_bible_strange-as-it-may-seem-the-bible-played_1115678.jpg" --- # Strange as it may seem, the Bible played a positive role… ![“Strange as it may seem, the Bible played a positive role in the development of science. … Had it not been for the rise of the literal interpretation of the Bible and the subsequent appropriation of biblical narratives by early modern scientists, modern science may not have arisen at all. In sum…” quote by Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/steve-kumar-32203_bible_strange-as-it-may-seem-the-bible-played_1115678.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/steve-kumar-32203_bible_strange-as-it-may-seem-the-bible-played_1115678.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/steve-kumar-32203_bible_strange-as-it-may-seem-the-bible-played_1115678.jpg) > ““Strange as it may seem, the Bible played a positive role in the development of science. … Had it not been for the rise of the literal interpretation of the Bible and the subsequent appropriation of biblical narratives by early modern scientists, modern science may not have arisen at all. In sum, the Bible and its literal interpretation have played a vital role in the development of Western science.”” [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Bible's literal interpretation spurred early scientists, shaping Western science's rise. **In simple terms:** Biblical literalism helped science develop. Key Takeaway Recognize how belief systems can drive inquiry. Themes history science religion culture Mood thoughtful analytical Type historical explanatory When to use this quote - University lectures - theological debates - science education - historical research Key Concepts Epistemology Intellectual history Science-religion interaction Questions to Reflect On - How might modern science differ without religious influence? - What other cultural forces shaped scientific methods? A Different Perspective Some argue that non-literal approaches also fostered scientific progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Modern science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-science/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [Some people cannot believe there is an alternative interpretation of the Bible aside from their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/some-people-cannot-believe-there-is-an-alternative-interpretation-of/) [Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/) > [ The history of interpretation \[of the Bible\] is fascinating; but that is something else. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-cross/the-history-of-interpretation-of-the-bible-is-fascinating-but-that-is/) [Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-cross/) > [Our songs aren't metaphorical, normally: they're literal in their interpretation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-paisley/our-songs-aren-t-metaphorical-normally-they-re-literal-in-their/) [Brad Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-paisley/) > [I argue against literal interpretation of religious doctrines. Religions make progress when they emancipate themselves from literalism, and take their doctrinal statements to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/i-argue-against-literal-interpretation-of-religious-doctrines/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [I am a terrible and lazy Christian. I do not believe that the Bible is the literal word of God. I just skip about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-am-a-terrible-and-lazy-christian-i-do-not-believe-that-the-bible-is-2/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [A literal interpretation of the Gita lands one in a sea of contradictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-literal-interpretation-of-the-gita-lands-one-in-a-sea-of/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I am a terrible and lazy Christian. I do not believe that the Bible is the literal word of God. I just skip about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-am-a-terrible-and-lazy-christian-i-do-not-believe-that-the-bible-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [The advocates of literal interpretation have been the most efficacious enemies of those doctrines whose nature they profess to venerate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-advocates-of-literal-interpretation-have-been-the-most/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [I do not have deep theological understanding or opinion, but I do not read the Bible as the literal word of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-do-not-have-deep-theological-understanding-or-opinion-but-i-do-not/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I no longer believe that the Bible is the literal and infallible word of God. And I don't believe in God as a figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/i-no-longer-believe-that-the-bible-is-the-literal-and-infallible-word/) [Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/) > [About the time of the end, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their attention to the prophecies, and insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-isaac-newton/about-the-time-of-the-end-a-body-of-men-will-be-raised-up-who-will/) Sir Isaac Newton > [I believe that the Bible is the literal word of God. And I say no, it's not, Dad. Well, I believe that it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-believe-that-the-bible-is-the-literal-word-of-god-and-i-say-no-it-s/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [“Literal interpretation without context is not only dangerous but contrary to what the Bible teaches.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-coren/literal-interpretation-without-context-is-not-only-dangerous-but/) [Michael Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-coren/) > [I could not believe that anyone who has read this book would be so foolish as to proclaim that the Bible in every literal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-could-not-believe-that-anyone-who-has-read-this-book-would-be-so/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [However far modern science and techniques have fallen short of their inherent possibilities, they have taught mankind at least one lesson; nothing is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/however-far-modern-science-and-techniques-have-fallen-short-of-their/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) ## More by Steve Kumar > [“It is reasonable to conclude that if the resurrection took place Jesus Christ is by far the most important person in history.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/it-is-reasonable-to-conclude-that-if-the-resurrection-took-place/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) > [“To be an atheist you must accept the impossible, believe the ridiculous, and trust the absurd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/to-be-an-atheist-you-must-accept-the-impossible-believe-the/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) > [“Chance has no real basis for producing anything. The assumption that time plus matter plus chance could produce intelligence is mythological.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/chance-has-no-real-basis-for-producing-anything-the-assumption-that/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) > [“Christians believe in a Saviour who conquered death itself, while Muslims have a prophet, Muhammad, who was conquered by death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/christians-believe-in-a-saviour-who-conquered-death-itself-while/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) > [“Nothing in this world is able to explain its own existence; thus, there must be a God in order to explain the world in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/nothing-in-this-world-is-able-to-explain-its-own-existence-thus-there/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) > [“To argue that an unmade being is a contradiction the atheist must explain how they could maintain the concept of an ‘uncaused universe’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/to-argue-that-an-unmade-being-is-a-contradiction-the-atheist-must/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) > [“When you consider the great writings of the Egyptians, the Babylonians, the Greeks and the Romans, how they are saturated with mythology, superstition, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/when-you-consider-the-great-writings-of-the-egyptians-the-babylonians/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) > [“Many in fact will continue to find it easier to believe that the empty tomb produced the disciples’ faith than that the disciples’ faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/many-in-fact-will-continue-to-find-it-easier-to-believe-that-the/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) > [“More people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/more-people-today-have-the-means-to-live-but-no-meaning-to-live-for/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) > [“Archaeological research done in Bible lands has amazingly confirmed the reliability and historicity of the Scriptures in so many areas. Every part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/archaeological-research-done-in-bible-lands-has-amazingly-confirmed/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) > [“One must not commit the categorical mistake of equating God with the phenomena which He has made.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/one-must-not-commit-the-categorical-mistake-of-equating-god-with-the/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) > [“The discrepancy between the depth and sanity … of His moral teaching and the rampant megalomania which must lie behind His theological teaching unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/the-discrepancy-between-the-depth-and-sanity-of-his-moral-teaching/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) > [“We now know that the secret of life lies not with the chemical ingredients as such, but with the logical structure and organisational arrangement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/we-now-know-that-the-secret-of-life-lies-not-with-the-chemical/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) > [“In reality atheists deny not the God of the Bible but an caricature of their own imagination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/in-reality-atheists-deny-not-the-god-of-the-bible-but-an-caricature/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) [Explore all 15 Steve Kumar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) Robert A. Peterson > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) Stephen Taylor > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) Walsham How > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Strange as it may seem, the Bible played a positive role in the development of science. … Had it not been for the rise of the literal interpretation of the Bible and the subsequent appropriation of biblical narratives by early modern scientists, modern science may not have arisen at all. 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