Does anyone else find it interesting that atheists tend to know more about the bible than Christians do?

Question

This question for example:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20060905174858AApAriu&r=w&pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFMhDNQUC3GJQ9REDYGbq_CDGArFAQ_lD0HzsX4tZYFANKXvX5UXrLiqjo9XiZOdgTLqA--#EcUqUja4UjjcfjleySKOejj9Re62KD4umaL4ML7xN2zNg7SLQP2R

Many of them don't seem to know that the Bible was heavily edited before it became what we know today.

Ahem... MOST Christians i mean.

Heavy editing = texts purposely left out and order of remaining texts changed.

Answer 1

Why would that be surprising. I find it surprising that any Christian could read that book and STILL believe in it.

Answer 2

If this forum is any indication, I've found that atheists do NOT know the Bible at all!

I do find it disconcerting, however, that so few people who claim to be Christian know so little about the Bible.

BOTH groups so often use "street knowledge" of the Bible, and religion in general; they don't research the facts for themselves -- otherwise, they would all find out that the truth is nothing like what they believe.

Answer 3

I'm not sure what you mean by "heavily edited". If you mean "in the course of translation", that actually rather depends on the translation you're talking about. If you mean the original texts were edited, then you're wrong. We have texts of significant parts of the Old Testament dating back to the first century BC and possibly earlier, and they are essentially the same as the ones extant today. If there was editing of those going on, it happened before that.

The case for the New Testament is less clear, but still I think compelling.

Answer 4

Where is the proof of the "heavy editing"? Most scholars who have examined the actual fragments of all the ancient scrolls found to date have noted that aside from a few minor changes in spelling, grammar, and a few minor differences in wording here and there, there is no physical evidence of any "heavy" editing.

Most liberal scholars who claim that the Bible was "edited" usually find their "proof" in comparing arbitrarily chosen blocks of text from a modern Bible with other arbitrarily chosen blocks of text from the same (I.E.: so-called "higher criticism"). Higher criticism is the equivalent of an ink-blot test -- you see what you want to see.

Answer 5

At the outset I would say that I find the thought behind this question itself interesting
This topic when it first occurred to me I tried to guess what motivated atheists to discard religion. Talking to atheists I found every one of them was a thoughtful person and I think that's what distinguishes a believer from a non-believer. A thoughtful person will always try to supplement his thinking with the perceptions of others. So an atheist will naturally delve into the scriptures - Bible, Koran Upanishads and others
So for me it's a resolved question.
Thanks for giving me an opportunity to express my thoughts

Answer 6

No as a matter of fact I don't believe your statement at all. When I try and reason the scriptures with the atheists on here they usually talk complete nonsense. Saying that we have no evidence of the timeline of scriptures and that no one knows how long after Christ died that the New Testament was written and blagh, blaugh, blaugh. Just senseless junk that if they studied history they would know we have a completely accurate timeline going all the way back to ADAM. Instead the argue foolishly with no fact or substance, only philosophical garbage that has been handed down by them for eons as their basis of reasoning, that even intelligent non-believing pagans who know history would tell them they are fools.

Answer 7

i'll start this reaction by making use of pointing out that i'm a Christian. First, i'm sorry which you have gotten the effect that everybody Christians look down on you on your ideals, and that i assure you that no longer each Christian is an identical way. I even have buddies of many distinctive religions/ideals/techniques/and so on, and at the same time as i will no longer constantly trust their ideals, I do attempt my terrific to proceed to be respectful in the time of the whole communique. I additionally do no longer tension theological conversations on others besides, yet whilst this is an open talk the place anybody continues to be respectful, i'll connect in. basically placed, no, i do no longer hate those that have distinctive perspectives. Now, to respond to your question approximately why we come to this worldwide, i'll cite the Bible (to furnish you my viewpoint, as a Christian). Hebrews 9:27, "guy is destined to die as quickly as, and after that to stand judgment", and John 3:sixteen "For God so enjoyed the worldwide, that He gave His one and purely Son, that whomever believes in Him shall no longer perish, yet have eternal life". So, at the same time as we've loose will to do as we want, God supplies us our time right here, a time of grace, to get to be attentive to and have faith in Him in the previous dying. confident, I do have faith God exists. If i did no longer, i does not be a Christian. some might ask your self why I even have my ideals, yet, i'll declare that the Bible has defined issues to me that present day technology has no longer. confident, it is totally imprecise, yet for sturdy reason, and that i do no longer share my own tale with anybody. i'll purely say that I even have experienced what some will call "religious war" - struggles against the powers of darkness in this worldwide. explanation why i've got faith in God isn't basically purely an elementary answer to my life. I even have long undergone lots of my very own own trials and that i've got no longer any doubt approximately my ideals.

Answer 8

Many atheists spend years trying to desensitize themselves by reading the bible and watching Christian TV. A lot of Christians are baby Christians and haven't read the bible yet. They don't have to be convinced about God.

Answer 9

I did notice this...I don't really read the bible, so I am not suprised. Most Christians don't read the bible cover to cover either. But don't read it because I don't believe much in the Old Testament. Those who want to quote it, better read the WHOLE DARN bible.

Answer 10

I dont have the same views as athiest or christians,but I do admire one who is knowledgeable in an argument,how can you dispute or defend anything without some form knowledge on the matter

Answer 11

I see no evidence of that.

Sorry.

Lilith was not edited out of the Bible. Lilith is known from a Jewish Midrash.