Do you think that someone who claims to be an atheist should have at least read the bible?

Question

Just so they know exactly what it is that they don't believe in?

It is just fascinating that the atheists assume I am a happy clapper and that the Christians assume that I am a non-believing scumbug.

Answer 1

Most of us did.

If you're assuming that people are atheist out of ignorance of religion, you're just being narrow-minded. In the United States, at least, the majority of atheists are former Christians, many of whom (like me) studied Christianity quite a bit before deciding to accept the fact that there isn't any god.

What is clear is that atheists understand Christianity FAR FAR better than Christians understand atheism. Very few Christians even make any honest attempt to understand: most of the questions here from Christians about atheism are deliberately ignorant.

Answer 2

Do you think that Christians should read atheist philosophy, the Koran, the Gnostic Gospels, the Tao Te Ching, the Satanic Bible, The Spiral Dance, the works of Janet and Stewart Farrar, and all the other religions of the world, just so they know what exactly it is that THEY don't believe in?

Anyway, I'm not a Christian, and I've read the Bible in many different versions. I've also read the works of a number of other faiths as well.

Answer 3

I think someone who claims to be an Christain should have at least read the bible. Just so they know exactly what it is that they don't believe in!
That would be a hard logic, since it would also make one conclude they should read every book of faith..to be sure.

Answer 4

Definitely. But as many respondents have indicated, there are many other religions to consider. I have read the bible many times, as well as many other books on formal religion. I had the good fortune to read AGE OF REASON by Thomas Paine. He also wrote Common Sense and was one of the founders of our country. This book helped me firm up my strong belief in an Almighty God. I am a Deist, one who believes in God and no more. I strongly recommend that Atheists add this book to your reading list.

I'm reminded of my Catholic upbringing,and the first 2 things I Iearned in Catechism:

Who made the World (Universe)? God made the World.
Who is God? God is the Creator of all things

Answer 5

First off, if this is Kartice, you're not funny dude because you asked me this monday....

But if it isn't, I believe so yes. I have read the Bible in various snippets earlier on, starting with the most adverse. I have just started reading the whole thing from beginning to end with my "Bible for Dummies" close by to answer any questions that might arise. There's a prevalent ground source of faith in the text, but I have always had a deistic/agnostic point of view since I was 9.

Answer 6

Are you saying that youy should have read the Koran, the Bhagavad Gita, the writings of Bahu'alla, the Talmud, and every other religious text on the planet so that you know exactly what it is that you don't believe in?

Remember, over 2/3 of the population of Earth is Non-Christian.

Answer 7

Paul S. NAILED it. Most atheists were at one time religious people. They just came to a gradual enlightening that religion is just fairy tales. The way you now see the Greek's belief in gods like Zeus and Athena as mythology. The Greeks believed in that, and you laugh at their beliefs now. Why are their beliefs silly and yours aren't? You have no more proof that yours is right than they had that theirs was.

Answer 8

I have read the bible several times. What makes you think atheists don't read the bible? The majority of us read it while on our quest for truth. I have actually read the bible more now as an atheist than when I was trying to be a christian.

Answer 9

Have you read any books on atheism just so you know what you don't believe in?

I have read the bible, I've been in bible study classes, I've even taken lay classes at a seminary. I find that this reinforces my belief that fundamentalism is laughable and that mainstream religions, while they might be well intentioned, don't make a lot of sense once they get past the love your neighbor ethics.

Answer 10

It's a good question, actually. I think that to formulate an educated opinion about anything -- in this case, whether or not to believe in God or Christ or whatever -- you need to educate yourself and do research. The Bible is an interesting read for Christians and non-Christians alike, and some passages resonate very deeply with people. I think that a lot of Atheists shun Christianity and scoff at people who believe in God without even taking the reasons for their belief into consideration. Same goes for people who blindly believe in God. I believe in God very strongly and I read the Bible very rarely...But I came to my believe through my own means and years of searching, not from speaking to others or reading anything...