Atheists, why do you do this...?

Question

So from this website, and from talking to atheists in general, I have realized that many of them are not bible literate. Now, don't get me here for making an "assumption". I said many, not all. How can you argue about a source which you have not delved into and personally scrutinized. I see that many atheists just memorize examples that they looked up online or elsewhere, and they continually use them. First, learn the bible in side out, then start arguing about it. Don't you think?

Cathy: You can't argue about something you are not knowledgable about. Why don't you write a history essay about an event that happened without researching it? Think you'll get a good grade?

Honesty: I may not be Koran, Talmud, or Mormon literate. But do you see me attacking their beliefs? No....

Answer 1

To be fair, the Buddhists and Muslims aren't trying to get their personal equivalent to intelligent design included in classroom text. I could give a fart about the Bibles validity, what I care about is (a) my own spirituality which I can take care of in other, far, far simpler means and (b) the burgeoning influence of Christian fundamentalists in the public and civic spheres. The burden of reading that tome is on them - they just can't get any reasonable material to argue their case from it (since to use it they would have to get everybody to stipulate it has "truth" in it).

Answer 2

Well. Kid, I have read the book through a few times. I have no intention of memorizing every word. I can look it up far too easy. I just need to reach out my hand to pick it up off my bookshelf, or hit 2 keys to be into a searchable web version.

What I have found is an alarming number of Xians who not only have never read, but also who have not the faintest idea of what the books are about. They have no concept of how the bible got to be the bible, no understanding of why it was written. (By the way, recent studies indicate 20% of Americans don't read well enough to understand a job application. How much of the bible do you think they get)
Yes if you want to argue line and verse get the bible complete.

It is not usually about the Bible though.
It is about religion and religious behaviour.

Do you need to read Meine Kampf to argue that Hitler's Nazi party was wrong?

Answer 3

Most atheists have been exposed to a religious doctrine at some point in their lives. Depending on the region of the world in which they are raised and the dominant religion of the region, it could be the Bible the Quran or the Torah.

Most atheists have a better understanding of the texts than adherents because unlike adherents they have come to question the contents. They question it because they've been exposed to logic, reason and probably a bit of science as well and realize that the book they're reading doesn't make a lot of sense in light of our understanding of things. So your assertion is flawed. Many atheists do understand the Bible/Quran/Torah insofar as they know the book in question is flawed. They may not have read it in it's entirety, but that's not surprising.

If you read a mystery novel in which the author uses arcane references, contradicts himself and has no sense of pacing, style or character development. If you realized after the first chapter that the motive, method and opportunity for the killer were weak or non-existent would you keep reading? No, you'd tell all your friends to not read that book because it was pure rubbish.

Answer 4

I'll admit that I have never read the entire bible cover to cover, so there are no doubt parts that I have not read. But I have read enough to know that the only rational explanation for the Old Testament is that it is the ancient myths of the Hebrews, and is no more believable than the ancient myths of the Greeks, Romans, Norse, etc.

But suppose I am wrong, and that Jehovah the god of Abraham really is the one true god that created the universe and all life on earth. I still would not worship that god. I have better morals than than god did. Why did Jehovah condone slavery? Why did Jehovah condone animal sacrifice, and ask humans to perform human sacrifice? Why did Jehovah say that the crime for working on the sabbath is death? And why did he later change his mind about these things? Is that the sign of a perfect moral being? No, even if this god were real, I would refuse to worship him. Thank goodness there is no evidence that he is real, and there is a lot of evidence that he is myth.

Answer 5

well, many Atheists and Agnostics are former Christians so most i've encounter know at least as much about the Bible as any average Christian. since for many people extricating themselves from the Christian conditioning of their childhood is a long arduous journey they will delve deeper into the religion so as to understand the extent of the effects it's had on their psyche. they read the Bible and the study Christian history. then they might read up on other religion and their myths and history and then the history of how Christianity affected America and so on. often Atheists and Agnostics are far more knowledgeable of the Bible and of Christianity than the average Christian because it was emotional/mental survival to become so.

i must conclude that your observations were conducted while under a biased perception.

Answer 6

I read the bible last year. I'll never learn it inside out like you. I don't feel that it's that important for me to spend that much time on it. A Hindu was tell me to do the same thing. So would a Jew, a Buddhist, a Muslim, etc. What you need to understand is that the existence of God doesn't make sense. If God exists, then he should prove to MY satisfaction that he exists. It wouldn't take much. All he'd have to do is appear before me, whisk me to the Eiffel Tower for 30 seconds, and I'd be his most fervent follower. Expecting me to be a believer because of a book is asking too much. Proof. Not the kind where you can point to a sunset and say 'See?'.

Answer 7

the bible is like the constitution. It's entirely open for misinterpretation. no one can learn it inside out, and just because you memorized all the names and places doesn't mean you really understand the meaning. Do some deeper more open minded looking yourself before you say another person has it wrong. And don't be so confident to assume you know it inside out.

Personally I've never heard a true atheist argue using biblical examples. Are you sure you're not talking about liberals?

Answer 8

Generalizations are, in general, the best way to get a one-sided argument that doesn't really answer your question....

Many atheists are Bible-literate, but only to the extent that they can point to things that uphold their beliefs. They are also just as literate in the Koran or other religious books.

Atheism is a religion, and as such, doesn't focus as much on other religious belief structures. As a Quaker, Christian, Catholic, Muslim, etc, most people won't become literate in the other faith's works - just enough to uphold their own beliefs and to "prove" the "folly" of other peoples.

Your thought that others should "learn the bible inside and out" won't go far. I'm guessing that you have spent years of time on the Bible - have you also spent just as much time on the other religions? Doubt it. I'm not trying to knock you down a peg or three, just wanting you to look at this from another perspective...

Answer 9

I guess, some realize that you don't have to read the bible not to believe in it. I did, but thats not the point.

The bible doesn't present us with the only option as you would assume. There are lots of other religions to choose from, and there is also the idea of realizing that you don't really need that train of thought in your life to be happy. I, personally wish I had never been exposed to any of it- its nice to maintain a sense of magic in your life.

You act like this is some huge enhancement to life, when in reality- its just another path. Religion is just an option. I've decided against following after trying it first, but if I never tried it- I could be an agnostic! I think reading that book turned me off of everything magical in life. I feel like I lost something after reading it... it was my hope for an afterlife.

Answer 10

Well I don't know the Bible very well but i do know it enough not to like a lot of it.

The Koran point is very relevant. Since it comes after you bible and claims to be the true authority on God. How do you know it is not the true book of God without spending a few years of your life studying it in detail?

The Koran is not better in proving God then the bible.

I don't need to study both of these texts in detail to know they are fables written by super superstitious people who had a very limited knowledge of the world around them.