# Biblical inerrancy and literal interpretation; why?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [October 25, 2002, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824 "2002-10-25T11:10:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 13

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**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2002, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/241 "2002-11-08T18:51:48Z")

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> [@](#):
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> But that is one very key point to choosing Him as one’s Savior and Lord. It’s an all-or-nothing choice; you agree to do your level best to follow His example and obey His teachings, and trust in His Spirit to guide you and strengthen you so that what you do is enough.

What if I decide to follow his ethical example, but I do not believe that he was god, or that I need to be “saved?” Do I go to hell?

(Gandhi was very influenced by the teachings of Jesus, but he never converted to Christianity. Is Gandhi in hell?)

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