Thank you for the question on reading the Bible, “Why do they say that the Bible should not be read literally?”
I believe that the Bible should be read literally, but there are scholars and even ministers who doubt the historicity of the Bible.
There are three basic reasons why atheists or even some Christians reject the Bible. This is for your consideration for their reasons, not mine.
A. The first reason is that the science contradicts the Bible.
It is commonly accepted that the Universe is 14 billion years old while some/many Bible scholars interpret that the earth is less than 12,000 years old. The miracles of Jesus as walking on water is physically impossible.
B. The second reason is that archaeologist and geologists has not confirmed the biblical assertions as water covering the Earth or that the enslaved Jews left Egypt. There is little or no record or evidence for it.
C. The third reason is that historians have not found substantial external records for the biblical account as Solomon’s Temple or the life of Jesus.
From my perspective, the primary reason is the disbelief or denial of the existence of God. If God doesn’t exist, then the Bible can’t be the Word of God. There are those who believe that the Bible was written to “control” the Jewish people or Christians in their belief and conduct. I don’t accept that premise.
Christians are left speechless at times as to how to address or reply to their arguments against the Bible. However, many Christians have not carefully examine the Scriptures or have imposed their interpretation on the Bible.
Here are some thoughts for one’s consideration to the reply why the Bible should be read literally:
A. Cosmologists are correct in measuring the most distance star to earth will take 11 billion years. I believe that when God created the heavens and the earth, he also created the galaxies and stars in the Universe. Genesis 1:2 is more than a statement for creation, it is a statement of creation.
When God declared, “Let there be light,” God didn’t wait 11 billion years for the light to be detected on earth. In the “moment” of time, God caused the light to travel to earth even though there was no one to see the light.
Cosmologists have two view points on the origin of the Universe: The Big Bang Theory and the Continuous Steady State Theory that the universe infinitely contracts and expands. The Big Bang theory may well describe the biblical event when God created the heavens and earth. Man has detected that moment for the origin of the Universe.
B. As to the formation of the earth and life on earth, geologists and paleontologist theory is very similar to the biblical description. The earth was void and empty at its formation. Geologist believes that the landmass of earth arose out of the ocean due to tectonic shifts. God commanded the landmass to rise and the landmass is one continent which has now drifted apart into 7 continents. Geologist now believe there are water molecules in the earth’s crust as much as the water that covers the earth crust. The finding of sea life on the earth’s mountain tops would/could indicate that the landmass was once part of the ocean floor.
I may be wrong but the six days of creation is not literally twenty four hours, but days that describe the activity of God in the stages of reformatting earth. The sun and moon was not created until the fourth day so the days are not twenty four hours but the ascription of God’s “day” of activity on earth.
C. As to the reply to lack of historical record to confirm the Bible, archaeologists have confirmed the cities and people group who lived in an area. The Babylonians Tablets affirm that Sennacherib and Nebuchadnezzar invaded the Promised Land. There is not dispute. The continuing archaeological digging in the Middle East may yet confirm the biblical narrative.
God is holy and righteous as the angels declared. God can’t lie so what has been declared is true based on the character of God and is being confirmed by archaeologists.
If one rejects reading the Bible literally, then one can interpret that salvation is only figurative or that Jesus didn’t die for the sins of the whole world but was a martyr who was at the wrong place at the wrong time. He wasn’t God for there is no God but a good man who was killed by the Romans, if there was a Jesus at all by some modern scholars. No Roman historians would record the death of a condemned Roman criminal. Josephus alludes to the disciples and the Christ or Chrestus, but scholars implied that Christians inserted that into the writing of Josephus. If a Christian was to insert the life of Jesus, it would be more than the few words in the writing. Lastly, it would violate the Ten Commandment of not bearing false witness.
SUMMARY: The Bible is God’s Word of his love for humans and his desire that none should perish but have eternal life. Each person must be convinced in his/her own mind whether the Bible is the Word of God for God has revealed his will for mankind.
For more perspectives:
https://www.quora.com/Why-do-they-say-that-the-Bible-should-not-be-read-literally