Could Parts Of The Bible Be Fiction?
Mormon Related
Name: Pedring
Comments: I've been reading the Book of Mormon for awhile and have somewhat neglected in depth study of the Bible especially the Old Testament. As I read the Old testament I can't help but doubt the authenticity of some of the stories. There is a very big difference between the miracles and events that took place in the Old Testament and those of the Book of Mormon.
Yes there are at least a few instances that are fiction in a way. For example Brigham Young taught us that at least parts of the Adam & Eve story in the garden of Eden was figurative, not literal.
Did Brigham Young taught us or was sharing his personal view? Judging by that statement alone, it seems to me that he was just sharing his own opinion ("but it is not, to my understanding").
You have a good point. Brigham Young taught it as doctrine as far as he understood it on several occasions, and told us that his word was as good as scripture, but he also said to let the Holy Ghost be our guide to decide whether he was teaching us correctly or not, and that's good advice we should always follow.
Not all the apostles at the time agreed with him either, and later down the road everything that Brigham Young taught about Adam & Eve was dismissed along with the Adam/God Doctrine that he taught. But if we want to know the absolute truth, we know who to ask.
Here's an interesting quote about it from William Clayton's journal:
I'm always concern when I hear that people feel they can be prophets upon themselves. Of course, it is good to pray and receive confirmation but if the answer opposite to what the Church teaches then we know we're in the wrong path.