Without being forced to?
I've never read it, and was just wondering.
2006-08-18 14:02:19 · 39 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm curious as to what it says.
2006-08-18 14:08:47 · update #1
People tell me that the Bible, itself, isn't preachy, but rather those who use it to make a point.
Hmm, perhaps I will one day.
2006-08-18 14:12:08 · update #2
willingly lol yes
actually i probably read it more now than when i was made to
i am not Christian , but i like to learn about other religions
2006-08-18 14:07:34 · answer #1 · answered by Peace 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Bible is many things, to many people. Sure it has history and stories, poetry and what many consider as fables and many consider it fiction however to a Christian it is the power of God and God's revelation and help and a very magical book in that from within the text and stories and words the believer finds peace, happiness, hope, and answers to life's questions. The magic of the Bible, for the Believer is that God reveals the spiritual truth contained within the pages. To a person that just looks at it as a book of paper pages and does not know or care about God then there would be no incentive to read it other than idle curiosity. Through the stories and words though many that never believed in God found God and salvation and hope. Certainly there is reason to willingly read the Bible.
2006-08-18 14:14:20 · answer #2 · answered by alagk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I started to - but to be honest - I found it hard to follow. When I start reading about people living 300+ years and having 150+ kids - it's just too off the scale of the believable for me personally.
On that note - I do believe that there are plenty of people who have read the Bible willingly, and not just because they were searching for some kind of faith to follow.
I'm sure the reasons that someone would pick up the bible and read it are just as varied as the reasons people would pick up any other book and read it. Some see it as non-fiction, others see it as fiction - but what ever their take on the matter - it's definitely one of the most discussed books in the world.
2006-08-18 14:12:36 · answer #3 · answered by Simplekindoflife 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah the Bible is pretty neat if you read it in the right frame of mind. If you seriously think you want to read the Bible, I would encourage you to read "Searching fo God Knows What" first. Donald Miller talks about how he hated reading the Bible because he never understood it as a "self help" book. But, one day he learned to read it as a book written by people who wanted to tell a story and that he really started to enjoy it. But, yeah, the people who "preach" take the Bible WAY of context far too often.
2006-08-18 14:22:02 · answer #4 · answered by katethefabulous 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes as a young person I read the Bible from cover to cover.Even as a child I wanted to know the truth for myself,not what someone said it was.I`ve studied the Bible for many years.I believe we have to work out our own salvation.By praying and asking The Holy Ghost to be our teacher and really studing do we find our own complete and true faith.
2006-08-18 16:48:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did... and I'm wiser now in spite of the experience...
since all rationality seems to disappear on ANY subject with some religious people, I decided I had to become knowledgeable in their arena.
I had people lining up to help me study.... you know
"the evil atheist reads the bible".... conversion imminent.... everyone wanted to see me go blind....
but alas.... even armed with this new knowledge, I still couldn't get a rational conversation out of them....
yes... older and wiser now
*********************** In a nutshell *********************************
you haven’t missed anything by not reading it
the first 5 chapters are the jewish books... creation and the laws. What not to eat(rock badgers, pigs, shrimp and lobster etc), how to treat your slaves, cleanliness, etc… all these laws were supposedly superseded by jesus except for the one about gays…
the rest of the old testament is history and the rantings of prophets who were really jews prophesizing about the return of the jewish king
The new testament is the 4 gospels telling the life of jesus and their stories and the rest is paul droning on with his psycho-sexual ravings about how worthless women are and that men are better off without them...
the best book in the bible, and one I highly recommend is the last one... Revelations... a cocaine laced acid nightmare... the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse kind of stuff.... a wonderful read... well worth it
for people of faith….
Faith and religion are often confused. Faith is from the heart, it is your individual celebration of spirituality. While religion is the manifestation of that faith as dictated by the group.
Religions determine what appearance that faith must have and what Laws the adherents must follow in order for their faith to be considered valid. Religion worships the Laws of Faith above faith it’s self. Followers are trained to believe that if one is not like the group, they are wrong. Therefore, you are either with us or against us, you are either good or evil, you are either saved or damned.
Religion tends to breed conformity, and this conformity propagates contempt for any non conforming behavior. Religion breeds an obedience to an orthodoxy of political beliefs and Laws that is adhered to in a Stepford Wife like manner, and those who don’t are damned.
Don’t lose your faith because of a religion.
2006-08-18 14:36:48 · answer #6 · answered by yeeooow 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have read bits an pieces willingly. I hope to read and study the bible as a whole someday. Study in an annalytical educational way.
2006-08-18 15:35:55 · answer #7 · answered by Tamsin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, alot. Next time you pick it up...turn to the book of 1st Corinthians, chapter 13. I think this was the first part of the bible I ever really read. It's very beautiful.
2006-08-18 14:20:30 · answer #8 · answered by Esther 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I recommend the Contemporary English Version of the Bible. It's easier to read in somewhat modern language. It almost makes it enjoyable, lol. It's still not an easy read, but when you do "get it" and see things connecting, its exciting.
2006-08-18 14:14:52 · answer #9 · answered by Rockford 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, The Bible has many great stories. The bible has one of the finest literature ever recorded!! The bible is so complete w/ a beg. middle, and end. it has one smooth theme throughout about salvation through the messiah (Jesus Christ) even though it took 40 writers and 1500 years to complete!! god inspired them all!!
2006-08-18 14:08:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I have.7 times, cover to cover.Once you get past the rather questionable parts, the prose of the King James verison is really quite nice (I like Shakeseare), and it has alot of really nice stories in it.And I just thought I'd mention, I'm not Xian.
2006-08-18 14:08:45 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋