The evidence that Jesus ever existed is weaker than you might think

[pnwmom]

5. Many Christians don't believe stories in the Bible to be literal truth.

Catholics, for example, don't view scripture as a history or science book full of evidence-based facts.

This is an article from a Catholic Jesuit publication. It echoes what I first heard in CCD classes in 6th grade, when I asked the young Seminarian about the Adam and Eve story. His answer: we weren't meant to believe it literally.

https://www.americamagazine.org/issue/786/article/fundamental-challenge

I led a Bible study series recently at a parish in Manhattan, where most of the participants were hip, advanced-degree-holding professionals. . . . When the participants raised questions about scientific theories concerning the origins of the universe and humankind, I made reference to the 2004 statement by the Vatican-sponsored International Theological Commission, which spoke positively about the Big Bang theory. I also quoted Pope John Paul II’s affirming remarks on the theory of evolution.

Nonetheless, a number of individuals were shocked at the suggestion that the first and second chapters of Genesis did not contain literal, historically accurate accounts of creation. One woman protested, saying, “How do you know the world wasn’t made that way? You can’t prove otherwise!” Another was flabbergasted that I did not affirm the historicity of the talking serpent in Genesis 3: “Are you saying that God can’t create a talking snake?” Finally, an irate young man sent me e-mail to tell me, among other things, that my treatment of Genesis had no place in a Catholic parish and that I should consider becoming Protestant.

SNIP

Most Catholics who are literal readers of the Bible do not realize that this method is not a part of their faith tradition and that such interpretations have been repeatedly discouraged by Catholic scholars, pastors and bishops.