It's been the same with Christianity for most of the 2000 years it has existed. Christians had so many different interpretations they have been split up into splinter groups as early as 30 years after Jesus death.

Literalism is a pretty new concept, rougthly from the late 19th century.

If anybody is interested about the history, I can recomend Center Place`s newest video, a progressive church that has a lot of historical and very scholary lectures about Christianity and Judaism (no preaching or converting). Their lectures playlist is a treasure. And I say this as a very much not Christian or Jewish person.

Here is their video on Literalism