Why is it that the vast majority of people have never read the Bible?

Question

Believer or unbeliever... shouldn't everyone have read and have a working knowledge of the book that has had the most influence on Western Civilization.
I can see censoring Lott's drunken adventures with his two daughters from eight year olds in a Sunday school class.
I can see side stepping Noah and Ham. (That's if anything actually happened between them. The Jews have been puzzling over this for centuries before the Talmud was written.)
I know reading comprehension is limited especially for those below the 100 IQ, but from reading some of the crap (bullshit actually) posted here, but weren't these people taught something?

Note to guy below: I have read the Koran.

Note to other guy below: I've read "My Struggle"

Answer 1

you know the saddest thing i ever heard is that the majority or fudimental christains haven't read they ibble while the majority of athiests have.

Answer 2

I have toyed with the thought that I should read the Bible for the reason you give in the first paragraph -- it's an important book for its influence.

But, given all the stuff to read that is much more interesting, informative, and fun, and with no really strong desire to read the Bible (I started it once, but gave up among all the mind-bogglingly boring begats), it's just too daunting, with too little reward for me.

Of course, I have read quite a lot of the Bible, as it's quoted all over the place (and heard people read from it and quote it), so I do know about a lot of what it says.

As for others: Many people are from societies where the Bible hasn't had the influence it has had on Western Europe and the Americas. Many Christian churches don't (or didn't used to -- according to a Catholic friend of mine) emphasis reading the Bible.

Lots of Jews have read the first half, but don't consider Jesus to be messiah, don't have reason to read his half.

Lots of people don't read, except road signs and food packages. Many that do read only for fun.

There are a LOT of reasons people haven't read the Bible.

Answer 3

I don't know if they are a "vast majority", but it is most likely because they are not interested in a "working knowledge" of what they view as superstition. The "influence on western civilisation" you refer to is not viewed as especially good or benign by many. Yes I suppose censorship and suppression is a good way of hiding facts you don't want revealed. But then there are many people that don't believe hiding the truth is a good thing. You know, freedom of press and all that. Which by the way comes from a document that is considered as much more useful by a good many people in this country. And I'm sure some of the people you refer to as posting..........( I won't use that kind of language I'll leave that to Christians such as yourself, assuming you claim to be one) feel the same way about some of your postings. And not that it makes a bit of difference, my I.Q. is 135. I also have a college education that includes studies in English, English Lit.,Old and New Testament plus Comparative Religion, among other subjects. Then again I understand that insulting a person's intelligence, education or lack there of is considered by many to be a valid form of debate.

Answer 4

But wouldn't that be kind of like picking and choosing only the "good parts" of the Bible and ignoring everything else?

Besides, the "vast majority" of people in the world aren't from the West. If everyone in the world is expected to have read the Bible, then why not have them read the Vedas too, considering they're from a religion that's been around way longer than Christianity or Judaism have.

Answer 5

It may have been the most influential book ever written but I also argue that the influence you are refering to has been mostly negative. Zealous belief in these books has inflicted a great deal of pain upon the world. Crusades, inquisitions, witch burnings, etc. There are some good things in the bible but these good things are not exclusive to the bible. Many of the messages that are found in the bible can be found elsewhere. For example, buddhists also have their own (older) version of the "Golden Rule." The bible is not the sole source of truth but a small fraction of it.

Answer 6

A lot of people do not at all. I've read the bible back to front (New Testament to Old Testment). It's a lot of book. You can't take it in all at once, it takes more than one reading, studying, and fellowship to actually get a true understanding of everything in the bible. I learn something new from it everyday even though I already read it.

Answer 7

well i'll put it this way alot of people can't interpret or misunderstand the bible.not every1 shares ur view that all should read the bible, to some its jus some book trying to suck all the fun out of life.
many families don't see to it that their children have some strong religious background n when these children grow up they have nothing to teach their own nd with so many other foreign stuff coming in people r led astray.
last,many don't bother with the bible bcause they can't see that the scriptures that were written back then can b used now.

Answer 8

The Bible has been quite influential no doubt, but largely in the negative sense. No wonder our world is full of so much violence, bloodshed, murder, rape and injustice - the Bible is filled with same, and I often wonder how anyone could read the old testament especially without having a nightmare! What gory tales that have been influencing our credulous world for ages!!!

Answer 9

most people have not read the bible from cover to cover, that is true. i have no information to contradict this statement.

however, with the influence of many factors, which defame the bible and religious right, and when we allow those who oppose religion in every form to hinder our children from having an afterschool bible club and other activities.

there is so much unbridled passion against religion in the media and even on the street corners, that many today, decide to turn away from the conflict by ignoring the subject completely.

then there are those airhead out of kansas that go to funerals of soldiers and hold up signs that "God hates america", "God hates fags", "God is glad your child died" and other crap.

this alone would turn many people away from God, if they do not hear the other side of the story.

-eagle

Answer 10

Read the Bible once or twice, which is why I pray for people,
especially people like yourself.
I Corinthians 13;8a, Love never fails!!!!!
9-1-6

Answer 11

Self compulsion is the only way and a lot of people don't read much of anything.

Western countries aren't going to make you go to church or make you read the Bible. Christianity is voluntary.