Atheists and bibles ( from a previous question )?

Question

isnt it more logical that someone should read a book , then make an informed educated decision on its contect
in the same respect ... has any Christian read other works of religion ( outwith their own )
if not why not ?... wouldnt it be more logical to become a Christian
through an informed and educated desicion ?

i would be interested to know if you are christian ( or any other religion )
what religious books you have studied outwith your own faith

i disagree that you cannot make an informed decision
even if there is no proof of God
we can read many books and find one that fits closest to our own personal thoughts
this does not mean we have to have proof of every single word written

actually i have read a lot of the quran
and i am waiting on an english version being delivered
do not assume i do not read other books

Preacher .. now thats what i am talking about
and well done to you for making that decision

Answer 1

I am a Christian minister and I have read books from foreign religions; therefore, my decision to become a gospel believing Christian was made from an educated standpoint. I am not above comparative religious study. In fact, I do enjoy such an activity, as it continues to reinforce my belief that Jesus is the only way.

Answer 2

I like your "outwith" bit, where did that come from??
But that's nothing to do with your question!!
I am atheist, why do you think that is?
Do you think I just woke up one morning and declared that I was atheist??
I think I have read just about every religious holy book there is to read, and whats more I understand most of them, unlike the majority of the followers of those religions!!
As for your "logic" bit, logic and religion do not equate, A religious person 'believes' not through logic but because they really need to believe, some thing like a druggy, they need a source of comfort!!! It's a pity really!
Christianity is the most illogical religion of the lot, I can understand the Lord Buddha sitting under a tree contemplating, I can understand the Prophet Mohammed
passing on messages from God etc etc!!
But for God to appear on earth and be his own Son and also be the Holy Ghost!!! Come on you have to draw the line some where??
And while I am on my high horse, the thing that really rattles me is the fact that the majority of Christians dont have a clue what it is exactly they are supposed to be believing in!!
This also applies to most Muslims!
Apart from their belief in 'one God' and in their Prophet Mohammed they dont know much at all about their religion
sure they can recite the Koran inside out, but do they understand it??
Sorry if I appear to have gone a bit 'over the top' here in answering your perfectly legit question, I was not trying to have a go at you personally, and this forum does give me the opportunity to vent my spleen!!
I feel better now!!

Answer 3

You are right which is why as an atheist I read the bible.
I know many so called christians who don't even own a bible. In fact I would say a majority of them donj't
and many rarely attend church.
Most muslims cannot even read if you look at their over all picture and depend on their celrics for guidence which is why there is so much trouble in their countries.
there are many christian preachers who became preachers or church leaders with little or no education on their subject and travel the old fashioned way with little understanding of the bible. many of the don't read it. just find passages in which to preach on.
Everyone interested in christianity should take lessons and get an education in the subject especially if they are going to become preachers. If not they don't becoem preachers, but becoem proachers as they proach up the feelings, and lives of other people with no understanding of what damage they may be doing.

Answer 4

I have read the Bible, the Quran, the Talmud, the Book of Mormon, the Bhagavad Gita, books on Buddhism, the Satanic Bible and many books on Paganism & Wicca.

After leaving christianity I was a Wiccan for many years and now consider myself agnostic and could not have come to that conclusion without all the readings I've done of various religious texts and books.

Answer 5

I'm a Christian and I have read other books too. I have also read the books and articles where various authors (from Fathers of the Church to contemporary theologians and writers) comment on the differences between Christianity and other philosophies and religions. All Christians should do that.

Answer 6

Not read all of this thread ...............but my input anyway.
Books can mislead as they put forward the views of the author. I've read the Bible. years ago.........it is an historical document based largely on verbal anecdotes. So, is probably distorted..........ever heard of Chinese Whispers? Also over the years language changes so translation can be misleading. Have any of you heard of, let alone read A Course in Miracles............it is not easy reading and I still have not finished it even though I started to read it about 3 years ago.
Religion..........of any sort, to my mind is man wanting to shape followers in their value system. I find that lacking..........so, my quest is for my own value system and I am increasingly finding that it is within nature, not religion, that we should be looking
I may be a wrinkly.............but unless we start to forget about the religious differences and look after the natural world we could be heading for even more problems.
Sorry folks......................was not meant to be a lecture, just my thoughts :-)

Answer 7

Most of the stories in the bible are fiction, they have no basis in reality. However, I agree that all religions should ready each other's works in order to get a grasp on where we are all coming from. I am not an athiest by the way, I just think the bible has a lot of inconsistencies.

Answer 8

Very few religious decisions are made that way,the vast majority of religious teaching is done as children in the form of iondoctrination. The vast majority of the rest turn to religion in hard times of their life when they need a crutch to get on with life, which is no condition in which to make an informed decision.

Answer 9

i can appreciate your approach to the athiest / christian disconnect to begin at a common ground, however the bible (and other historical sources of spiritual guidance / reference / foundation) is not the same as a "regular book". There is one Bible, translated (not interpreted) multiple ways for each's own comprehension and you can read any translation to best get your foundation.

However, I believe there are no such thing as ätheists" because those that claim to be are not able to "logically" explain to me why in times of gladness / sorrow they call out "OH GOD, PLEASE HELP ME" or "THANK GOD" faster than I can. And let's not begin with giving someone their last rights....

Answer 10

Yes, I responded to that question that you are talking about.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Agpw6cDuEvig7qXQ9DWCgBfsy6IX?qid=20061015083522AAYulxn

I am pagan, and have read the bible (including the apocrypha) twice. I also have the Q'uran (which I have not read yet), have learned a little from the Bagavad Gita, have read a bit about spiritualism, Buddhism, and Wicca, and also have the Book of the Dead, which I am currently reading.