Why are so many non-believers critical of the Bible, never having read it all?

Question

I usually take the stance that ignorance does not ever have the RIGHT to make an opinion. This is because there is nothing that ignorance CAN say on a subject that has value.
Everything is just rumor and hearsay, and repeated things that they, usually, heard others say (also usually out of ignorance).
I have heard the "if you are a Christian, why are you doing that?" thing in my life and it really makes no sense. Would they say to a physicist, "Why are you still using a Einsteinian equation there and not Fermi's equation?", not having studied physics?
Would it not be both intellectually and morally honest to keep quiet and not criticize what one is ignorant of?

For those of you who claim that MOST or the VAST majority have read the BIBLE, is just silly, and by no means provable. there have been studies (Gallup Polls and such) inquiring into just this question and the vast majority HAVE NEVER READ IT!
As for why not ask why MOST people claiming to be Christian have not read it, I posted that question first!

Again, I assert that the VAST MAJORITY of thos who are not believers in the BIBLE have NOT read it. and I am ashamed of those that claim to believe it and, also, have not read it.
The continued claim by many here that MOST non-believers HAVE read it is absurd!
I will give a little anecdotal evidence:
All children study math, on some level, in school Some do not pass or pay attention.
Some continue to higher levels. Of these, some do not pass or pay attention. This pattern repeats until there are VERY FEW true mathematicians.
On each higher level there are less and less, due to lack of either interest or ability. And all of this with math being considered an EXACT science.
And yet many of you here have convinced yourselves that overwhelming numbers have studied something that they consider to be false, wrong, and corrupted and something in which they are uninterested?! More of them, in fact, than those who choose to believe it?
PLEASE!

Acknowledging CURRENT JW teaching:
JESUS IS NOT GOD, only A god.
The denial of Christ's divinity is what sets it apart as a non-Christian cult, and so shall it ever be!

Sorry achtung_heiss!

Answer 1

As a great French philosopher once said, "Ignorance is bliss."

It doesn't really matter what the subject is. If you haven't taken a look at it personally, yet make some kind of comment or put forth some opinion on the matter, it is hollow due to your ignorance of the subject matter. So yes. When it comes to the bible, if a non believer hasn't read the book yet makes a negative comment, you are well within your right to call them on it. And on that front, I am neither a Christian nor a Jew and I have read the bible many times. Similarly...

When I hear the Christian Right go on and on about the Harry Potter books, calling for an out and out ban, I think like you. Have they actually read the books? Do they have any idea what they're talking about? Unlike the bible, which professes to be god's absolute truth, the Harry Potter books are children's fantasy. You have about as much to fear with these books as you would have reading Tolkien. So, like you, I call them on it for their ignorance.

Answer 2

Yup, they've learn their publication, simply now not -any- of the opposite types, with the interpretation variations. Now then, I've discovered that individuals who learn most effective the king James variation will have to be appeared upon with a few pity, when you consider that they are most often essentially the most vocal, and they've essentially the most corrupted. So sure, for them, I could say all 3 excuses. Personally, I manage it by means of sitting down and writing out a protracted query, that could ramble a little, after which put up it. You'll most often uncover the extra phrases you utilize in a query, the fewer most probably they will wish to reply you. Especially if its a query that they can not move to the bible and appear at to evangelise at you.

Answer 3

What a silly statement. How can you assume that? I am sure the majority have read it. Certainly those in the west who are fed it from an early age and taught it in school.

Have you read it? NO, I mean really read it!

Try the old testament with a God that killed, gloried in death, threatened and abused! What changed between then and the new testament?

It is not the Bible that people have opinions about but Christian zealots, extremists and born again Christians that seek to force religion on others and dictate to them.

Answer 4

Youre the ignorant one. The VAST MAJORITY of Atheists have indeed read your lame Bible, and this is EXACTLY why we've made the concious decision to not follow such a ridiculous philosophy.

You want to talk about repeating hearsay? Just look at all the stupid questions from Christians about not being related to monkeys. Or about science being a religion. Or Pascals Wager. Or Ockhams Razor. Or Emotional Blackmail... YOU people are the ones who attempt to wage war against others with repeated hearsay - and the majority of it has been debunked YEARS ago. But youre still saying it like a broken record.....

But everyone else that knocks the Bible is the ignorant ones eh?? I think NOT!

Answer 5

Good question. However, there is something fundamentally contradictory about the god found in the bible. I don't have to read the whole thing, just parts (which I have done). Also, you are a non-believer of Islam, why haven't you read the whole Quaran? You are a non-believer in Buddhism, why haven't you read their sacred texts? Because there just isn't enough time in the day. You need to make a decision.

However, in my non-believing, I never am critical of the bible. And I don't think many atheists are. I think they are critical of the idea of god. If someone is critical of the bible without reading it, that isn't right.

Answer 6

No offense, but I can't make it past the first two pages. Therefore, I don't quote the bible unless it's a popular passage I've heard many times.

Also, I don't know many Christians that have actually read the entire bible cover to cover either. In fact, I've met four people that have...they are a Catholic family that attends a church that requires you read the entire bible for confirmation and membership purposes.

So, until every Christian reads the bible completely, why should I have to? They are argue for it without reading it, why can't I argue against it??

Oh...btw...I was a Christian until I was 17....I listened to more of the bible in church than actually read it, but I know the hightlights. Thnx.

Answer 7

Your assumption here is that non-believers haven't read the bible.

Many of us have, again and again.

You seem to think that if one has read the bible, one cannot then be a non-believer. And that's patently untrue.

But to the gist of your question, or what I believe that gist to be, as much as I'd prefer that questions directly posed to a specific group of people (atheists, Christians, Pagans, Muslims, etc.) be afforded the respect of being answered only by those to whom the question is posed, I am responsible only for my own actions, and cannot impose my preferences on others.


For myself, I rarely if ever involve myself in questions about the bible because it has no relevance to my life - except when it is used to bash those whose religious views are different.

Answer 8

Good question! Next time, though try "why are there so many BELIEVERS who never read the bible?" and compare your results. They would probably surprise you.

One thing that is funny about the believer/nonbeliever battle on YA is there are a number of people who come to religion and spirituality just to argue- but don't know their own side of the argument ON BOTH SIDES!!! Its hilarious how hard these people try to play it off, but 90% of the time its easy to tell.

One thing that sure is fun is to see is two people who have done their homework and are strong in their beliefs or lack thereof and are willing to argue it to the bitter end- just for fun. Isn't that what this is here for?

Answer 9

They are no different than people scared of change or a group scared of change. A reflection if you will of themself and scared to move forward as to lose something. Sometimes the truth is more terrible than the falsehoods of man. The same reason people do drugs, to avoid things. The denile is the same.

Or they are just closed monded and have not the ability top see beyond or have any sense of where they came from or where they are going.
Maybe it would be easier if we just died and lights out.

What do I know. Maybe if they belive they just die and that is what happens. Maybe before they came down here that was the fate they wanted.

Answer 10

A lot of atheists here are more knowledgeable about what is actually written in the bible than a lot of the believers.

Are you one of those who is assuming that if a nonbeliever reads the bible, they'll be so floored by its awesomeness, they'll become a believer?

That assumption is wrong. You can read the bible and remain a nonbeliever. In fact, you can read the bible and become a nonbeliever because of what you read.