Non-believers: Do you think the Bible has merit?

Question

I ran across this answer while playing "six degrees of seperation" with my questions:
"Well what do you use the Bible for on your train rides to work everyday? Why have a Bible if you don't believe anything it says? If I were an atheist, I wouldn't even waste my time reading it."
I'm agnostic(sometimes leaning toward atheist on a really bad day:), but I still think the Bible has merit as a great literary work, and I acknowedge its HUGE influence on history and culture.
I'm even planning on taking a few religion classes at my college. I don't know if they'll change my mind about anything, but don't you think it'd would be a good idea for everyone to read at least one holy book/sacred manuscript from another religion?
(I'm planning on taking Sanskrit and Akkadian in my junior and senior years, too :)

Answer 1

Atheist here.

I wouldn't say I don't believe anything in the bible, that'd be like saying I don't believe anything in Aesop fables. The difference is that people would agree Aesop fables use fantasy for moral teachings, now with the bible that doesn't happen, people do actually believe someone walked on water and that the first humans were made of dirt. I've never heard of anyone killing because Aesop fables, history tells me people has killed for what the bible says. There are some moral teachings in the bible, but the way it's been used really gives it a big turn off when you don't believe in it. Has it have any influence? Of course. Does that validate it? Not a bit.

Now, why have I read it? Well, for a start, I was a believer once and I read it for the first time when I was still a believer. And if I didn't believe in it, why read it? Well, I don't believe in what the Odysseys say, but I still read it. I've read about other religions, beliefs and mythologies, I wouldn't say it's a waste of time, actually, if you've been through it, you are in a better position to say that you don't believe in it.

Most my family and friends are believers, so I kinda get involved in some religious practices and I go to church quite often since I'm sometimes asked by friends to go with them. I've found though that believers, at least my friends, aren't willing to attend to rituals that are not of their religion, in that sense, I've found my atheistic friends are more open minded to them, they don't deny to give that stuff a try and so far, I've never seen one convert to anything, I'd say their atheism is quite genuine.

Sometimes when people say "If you are an atheist you shouldn't go to church" sounds to me like if someone told me "If you are a mexican you shouldn't go to Europe", I mean, witnessing their rituals doesn't make me believe in a higher force (like going to China won't make me a chinese), actually, attending religious rituals have had exactly the opposite effect, I made me go from agnosticism to atheism, I decided it wasn't worth to entertain the question anymore.

So, keep learning, knowledge does not take space and it's never a baggage and if you change your mind, at least I think it'd be an informed decision, and not the result of indoctrination like most believers case.

Answer 2

The Bible does have merit as an historical chroncle of the state of Israel from about 1000 BC to 100 or so AD. While it's true that many of the particulars are incorrect, and obviously all the stuff before Moses didn't actually happen, in general it is a fairly accurate account of history, a fact that has been corroborated by finds from contemporary ancient cultures. You just have to remember that the Bible was written from oral histories that had been modified over time and the very oldest stuff, such as the Garden of Eden and the Flood, are more in line with other mythology or fable than an accurate account of actual events.

Answer 3

The Bible definitely has merit... no one can ignore how it has shaped society and has caused more conflict than any other text since time began. It's a matter of how you choose to view the Bible; is it the word of God to be taken as a literal list of dos and donts or is it a promotional piece by well meaning but flawed humans who couldn't help but write these words steeped in the society around them? I believe in many things in the Bible but I don't believe God wrote it. The words in the Bible have been constantly twisted to support any point of view about morality, ethics and way of life. It drives me crazy that anyone can cherry-pick what they want to support their decisions or their bigotries (slavery and racism are condoned; the same verses which forbid homosexuality also forbid eating shrimp and pork and insist that you stone your neighbor to death if he works on Sunday!)

Reading texts from other religions is a great thing to do to expose yourself to another culture and history. If everyone did that, I think there'd be less strife in this world. It's amazing how much all the world's religions have in common and it's too bad any religion is misunderstood or feared.

Answer 4

A priest I know once discussed this with me. I agreed with him that some of it may be good if you want to lead a good life and treat people with respect. But I don't need a book to tell me that. Another issue is that it is full of contradiction and nonsense. For instance, it actually encourages the beating of children, I am allowed to buy people of neighboring countries. So, i want to own a canadian, where do i get one? The creation story, god making the earth in 7 days, all of it absurd. If it shouldn't be taken literally, doesn't that throw the whole book into doubt?
I don't think it has merit

Answer 5

I think it has amazing historical value, and also has many good "life lessons" in there. I don't think it's the actual Word of God, because it's come through human beings and has been translated many times. Even if originally what was said was exactly what God meant (but converted into the limited form of words), over the years as it's gotten transcribed and translated I have to think things have been muddled. How about all the different versions that are around today? How can they all be exactly right?

Answer 6

yes, there is literary merit and I likewise acknowledge its considerable impact through the years.

however, that's about it. some of the stories in it are down right twisted and sick, certainly not morals upon which to base your life.

I hope you do take some courses on religion and mythology. take both old and new testament classes as well as comparitive studies. it si very important to me to undersand from where religion comes, how it has evolved over time and how much the same concepts are repackeaged and recycled (like the Jesus/saviour myth)

Answer 7

yes I was in your place a few years ago. I took a class on Eastern Religions and a class on Western Religions. In the end you see that though the words are different the message is the same.

Answer 8

I am not a believer in the strict sense of the word, though I fel strongly abvout spirituality instead of religion.

While I don't believe in the bible, it is an obvious outdated work of fiction, it does have its merits in that people find comfort in it, and I rather have them find comfort there than perhaps not at all.

Answer 9

Why would you ask Non believers they know nothing about its merit. I have studied and found it has more merit than any book I have read, even though it does have some translation flaws they are easy to correct into today's language.

Answer 10

I am agnostic. Actually became agnostic after reading the Bible, it's just too crazy and child like. I think if your going to refuse something then you should at least look into and know what you are refusing to acknowledge.