Why Does the Bible Contain Explicit Narratives?

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umzza

Senior Member
Jan 10, 2015
389
65
28
#1
These are probably my biggest reasons for not trusting the Bible

1) Why is there a whole book of the Bible filled with sexually explicit narrative? I don't have a problem with the Bible talking about sex, but Song of Solomon seems to be written in a way to stir desire more than to inform/teach. It reads much like a literotica would. These is very troubling for me because Christianity very strongly condemns pornography.

2) Why is Song of Solomon, a book that is supposedly about healthy intimacy in marriage, written by a man who had a ton of wives? I get it, everyone's a sinner, but God didn't let David build a temple because he was not a man of peace. Why would God let a promiscuous man write a whole Bible book about this subject?

3) Why did Mary, a YOUNG teenager, marry a man who was probably 30 or so? And if it was just a cultural thing, why do Christians get so incredibly upset when an older man initiates a relationship with a teen? Like they send men to jail for doing that. Why does it bother Christians so much if it was how God chose to be born?

Sorry for the nature of this post. It is not a topic I enjoy. But it makes me very angry because I do not understand it and makes me seriously question God.
 

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
Feb 21, 2014
70,860
9,579
113
#2
The bible doesn't say how old Mary and Joseph were. They very well could have been in their 30's. :) All it says is that Mary was a virgin and Joseph was her fiancee..
 

umzza

Senior Member
Jan 10, 2015
389
65
28
#3
Pretty much every preacher I've heard has said they were. You ignored my other questions also :/
 

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
Feb 21, 2014
70,860
9,579
113
#4
The preachers aren't more accurate than the word of God. And I didn't ignore your other questions..I haven't read those parts of the bible, so therefore cannot give an answer. :)


Pretty much every preacher I've heard has said they were. You ignored my other questions also :/
 

umzza

Senior Member
Jan 10, 2015
389
65
28
#5
Okay sorry. I just feel like everyone is going to focus on the last point and totally avoid the other two because, in my opinion, those are the strongest ones.
 

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
Feb 21, 2014
70,860
9,579
113
#6
It probably talks so strongly, because the bible talks strongly on several other deep issues, such as adultery, prostitution, murder, etc..


Okay sorry. I just feel like everyone is going to focus on the last point and totally avoid the other two because, in my opinion, those are the strongest ones.
 

umzza

Senior Member
Jan 10, 2015
389
65
28
#7
I meant strong as in those are the points that are the hardest to explain. Not that the Bible talks strongly about them. Sorry for the confusion.
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#8
There's a spiritual interpretation to the Song of Solomon, along with the literal words. The Bible describes the relationship of Christ and His church as a Groom with His chaste bride. There are many things that parallel Solomon as Christ, the Shulamite as the Church.

It shows us how precious we are to Christ. The Shulamite was despised, as the Church is despised by the world, but He loves us.

As far as Mary and Joseph are concerned, I personally like to imagine them both as teenagers. We have no idea how old they were.
 

umzza

Senior Member
Jan 10, 2015
389
65
28
#9
I appreciate you took time to respond but....you didn't really answer the two main questions. I understand what Song of Solomon is supposed to be. I just don't get why the book is written like a literotica...in a way that clearly is meant to arouse :/
 
Jan 27, 2015
2,690
367
83
#11
These are probably my biggest reasons for not trusting the Bible

1) Why is there a whole book of the Bible filled with sexually explicit narrative? I don't have a problem with the Bible talking about sex, but Song of Solomon seems to be written in a way to stir desire more than to inform/teach. It reads much like a literotica would. These is very troubling for me because Christianity very strongly condemns pornography.

2) Why is Song of Solomon, a book that is supposedly about healthy intimacy in marriage, written by a man who had a ton of wives? I get it, everyone's a sinner, but God didn't let David build a temple because he was not a man of peace. Why would God let a promiscuous man write a whole Bible book about this subject?

3) Why did Mary, a YOUNG teenager, marry a man who was probably 30 or so? And if it was just a cultural thing, why do Christians get so incredibly upset when an older man initiates a relationship with a teen? Like they send men to jail for doing that. Why does it bother Christians so much if it was how God chose to be born?

Sorry for the nature of this post. It is not a topic I enjoy. But it makes me very angry because I do not understand it and makes me seriously question God.
Um? If you're a Christian, there's no good enough reason not to trust God's Word. Having a question is one thing; not trusting is another. Do you actually doubt the entire Word of God because of some sex? I think the focus shouldn't even be on answering the questions you posed right now and instead should be on why having those questions reduces your trust in the Bible...

Pardon me for my bluntness, but it sounds like a heart problem and not a head problem. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how old Joseph and Mary were or why a book was written the way it was written if not knowing those few salvation-irrelevant details is enough to make you distrust God and His Word.
 

umzza

Senior Member
Jan 10, 2015
389
65
28
#12
Um? If you're a Christian, there's no good enough reason not to trust God's Word. Having a question is one thing; not trusting is another. Do you actually doubt the entire Word of God because of some sex? I think the focus shouldn't even be on answering the questions you posed right now and instead should be on why having those questions reduces your trust in the Bible...

Pardon me for my bluntness, but it sounds like a heart problem and not a head problem. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how old Joseph and Mary were or why a book was written the way it was written if not knowing those few salvation-irrelevant details is enough to make you distrust God and His Word.

Can you answer the first two questions? That's all I ask for. Just two answers.
 
Jan 27, 2015
2,690
367
83
#13
Can you answer the first two questions? That's all I ask for. Just two answers.
...Where are you at? There's a difference between "I trust God and have some questions" and "I have some questions and therefore I do not trust God". I kinda got the latter vibe from your OP. If you don't trust God, all my (or anyone's) answers will do is calm the noise for now until you have some other questions that you let make you doubt God. Trust God and His Word or not. But if you don't, the answers to these trivial questions honestly won't even matter.

That's all you're asking for now, but I feel like any efforts to answer your questions would just be like chopping the top of weeds. Sorry :(
 

Bladerunner

Senior Member
Aug 22, 2016
3,076
59
48
#14
These are probably my biggest reasons for not trusting the Bible

1) Why is there a whole book of the Bible filled with sexually explicit narrative? I don't have a problem with the Bible talking about sex, but Song of Solomon seems to be written in a way to stir desire more than to inform/teach. It reads much like a literotica would. These is very troubling for me because Christianity very strongly condemns pornography.

2) Why is Song of Solomon, a book that is supposedly about healthy intimacy in marriage, written by a man who had a ton of wives? I get it, everyone's a sinner, but God didn't let David build a temple because he was not a man of peace. Why would God let a promiscuous man write a whole Bible book about this subject?

3) Why did Mary, a YOUNG teenager, marry a man who was probably 30 or so? And if it was just a cultural thing, why do Christians get so incredibly upset when an older man initiates a relationship with a teen? Like they send men to jail for doing that. Why does it bother Christians so much if it was how God chose to be born?

1. Sorry for the nature of this post. It is not a topic I enjoy. But it makes me very angry because I do not understand it and makes me seriously question God.
First of all,,,ADAM and EVE were Naked in Eden until......Between a man an wife there is no pornography. Who said it was to teach....inform yes but to teach.......

2. If you knew your Bible at all, you would know that it was not frowned upon in the OT to have multiple wives for one reason or the other. When the New Testament Era come on, man could marry only one wife. Of course in real life, there are Polygamist that have more than one wife, there are PIMPS that have more woman...doubtful if marriage is thought of and then there are just the general population who believe that FREE SEX is for everybody. (started in the 60's). God also brought down David and his household for not being obedient. You should read about it.

3.Again I think you need to read your Bible especially about a Jewish wedding. Yes, Mary could have even been 12years old to be betrothed. Yet the marriage ceremony and the consummation was most likely years later. Even these days, kids have babies without marriage.

To answer your question about the oldermen and teens, well there are laws,,,,man laws and they say it is not allowed. Anyone should get mad if for no other reason than that but it seems there are many out there today that think anything goes. Who needs laws.

Your questions were statements that needed no answers and I doubt very seriously if these answers as simple as they are would do anything to change you mind about not trusting the Bible. Only those on the outside do not trust the Bible nor do they deny that it is The divinely written, inspired WORDS of GOD. I think you want to find a way of not to believe. SO SAD



 

Rondonmon

Senior Member
May 13, 2016
1,285
176
63
#15
These are probably my biggest reasons for not trusting the Bible

1) Why is there a whole book of the Bible filled with sexually explicit narrative? I don't have a problem with the Bible talking about sex, but Song of Solomon seems to be written in a way to stir desire more than to inform/teach. It reads much like a literotica would. These is very troubling for me because Christianity very strongly condemns pornography.

2) Why is Song of Solomon, a book that is supposedly about healthy intimacy in marriage, written by a man who had a ton of wives? I get it, everyone's a sinner, but God didn't let David build a temple because he was not a man of peace. Why would God let a promiscuous man write a whole Bible book about this subject?

3) Why did Mary, a YOUNG teenager, marry a man who was probably 30 or so? And if it was just a cultural thing, why do Christians get so incredibly upset when an older man initiates a relationship with a teen? Like they send men to jail for doing that. Why does it bother Christians so much if it was how God chose to be born?

Sorry for the nature of this post. It is not a topic I enjoy. But it makes me very angry because I do not understand it and makes me seriously question God.
Up until about 150 years ago many young ladies married at 12-13-14, it was a different time. Now you would rather see them sent of to a hedonistic college system I suppose? And marry at 30 when they have already become WELL........

You sound like a troll.
 

umzza

Senior Member
Jan 10, 2015
389
65
28
#16
@MultilingualMessenger I am so sorry but I really just want an ANSWER TO THE FIRST TWO QUESTIONS. Telling me I need to trust God is not going to help if I don't trust the Bible because of apparent contradictions. You cant talk all about me and try to teach me about other stuff but I just want ANSWERS TO THE FIRST TWO QUESTIONS.
 

umzza

Senior Member
Jan 10, 2015
389
65
28
#17
Up until about 150 years ago many young ladies married at 12-13-14, it was a different time. Now you would rather see them sent of to a hedonistic college system I suppose? And marry at 30 when they have already become WELL........

You sound like a troll.
Sorry you think I'm a troll. I just want answers to the first two questions.
 

Locutus

Senior Member
Feb 10, 2017
5,928
685
113
#18
The Israelites/Jews weren't a bunch of prudes and accepted sexuality as part of life.

As for Mary - we know very little except the myths built up in some "denominations"
 

umzza

Senior Member
Jan 10, 2015
389
65
28
#19
First of all,,,ADAM and EVE were Naked in Eden until......Between a man an wife there is no pornography. Who said it was to teach....inform yes but to teach.......

2. If you knew your Bible at all, you would know that it was not frowned upon in the OT to have multiple wives for one reason or the other. When the New Testament Era come on, man could marry only one wife. Of course in real life, there are Polygamist that have more than one wife, there are PIMPS that have more woman...doubtful if marriage is thought of and then there are just the general population who believe that FREE SEX is for everybody. (started in the 60's). God also brought down David and his household for not being obedient. You should read about it.

3.Again I think you need to read your Bible especially about a Jewish wedding. Yes, Mary could have even been 12years old to be betrothed. Yet the marriage ceremony and the consummation was most likely years later. Even these days, kids have babies without marriage.

To answer your question about the oldermen and teens, well there are laws,,,,man laws and they say it is not allowed. Anyone should get mad if for no other reason than that but it seems there are many out there today that think anything goes. Who needs laws.

Your questions were statements that needed no answers and I doubt very seriously if these answers as simple as they are would do anything to change you mind about not trusting the Bible. Only those on the outside do not trust the Bible nor do they deny that it is The divinely written, inspired WORDS of GOD. I think you want to find a way of not to believe. SO SAD



Thank you for reading what I wrote. About question two - I thought God wanted men to only marry one woman. Like I get that it was normal to have multiple wives in the OT. I don't get why, if God only wanted men to have one wife, He would choose Solomon to write about marriage relationships. Solomon seems like the last person who should write on the subject.
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#20
I appreciate you took time to respond but....you didn't really answer the two main questions. I understand what Song of Solomon is supposed to be. I just don't get why the book is written like a literotica...in a way that clearly is meant to arouse :/
I thought I did answer the questions. On the surface, it is a love poem from a man to his wife and from a woman to her husband. I don't see anything faintly ugly in it. It is love poetry. The spiritual meaning is of Christ and His church. Most poetry has a surface meaning and a spiritual parallel.

Why was Solomon allowed to write it? Probably because as a man with so many different wives, he was in a unique position to realize that only one was special. Solomon tried having tons of women and found out monogamy is best (read Ecclesiastes to see how jaded he was with his luxurious lifestyle, or the proverbs where he talks about staying with one wife and not hankering after other women).

This may be going a little far afield, but have you ever seen the film Anna and the King? It is a version of The King and I starring Jodie Foster as Anna Leowens (I think her last name is). Anyway, Anna goes to Thailand during the 1850s or 1860s to be a governess to the Thai king's children. The king falls in love with Anna. In the climactic moment of the film, the king tells Anna "Now I know why a man can be happy with one wife." He had tons of wives, but concluded that quantity does not equal quality.

I think Solomon probably found this out with the Shulamite.
 
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