Do you really believe that Atheists don't understand the bible?

Question

I have read the bible, front to back, 4 times. I realize that even though popular belief is that Jesus says the old testement doesn't count, Jesus himself says that until the end of the world everything single letter of the old testement still applies. I also know that the reason Jesus said this is because the character Jesus (Jeshua, actually) is an othodox Jew.

I personally don't need the extended bible quotes in responses to my questions. I'm not seeking clarification on holy scripture, I've been there, done that. What I'm seeking to do is to get you to think about what you've been taught and incite an interest in finding factual evidence of the scripture that you quote.

Quoting the bible is nothing new to me, I can quote with the best of them. What I'm asking you to do is PROVE IT. In order to do that you'll actually have to do some research that counters the millenia of research that says that it is fiction pulled from local folklore and other religions. Are you up to it?

Bible quoters... saying that I don't understand because I'm not a christian is a falacious argument. I WAS a christian for over twenty years. I just decided to see for myself why these scholars and historians say there was no Jesus of Nazareth. Why don't you do the research yourself? You don't have to look on the internet, stick to something you should be comfortable with. Open a book about the subjects! Preferably by someone with a good reputation who has their work reviewed by peers. Learn about the area, the time, and the people's culture. You'd be surprised at what you find out.

p.s. the "Left Behind" series does not count. It is also fictitious.

Answer 1

I'm with Mark Twain:
"It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand."

And I'd back my knowledge of the bible against 90-95% of Christians.

Answer 2

What is your criterion for proof? And prove what, its historicity, divine authorship, accuracy of transmission, or something else? And there is not a millenia of research discounting its veracity. Higher Criticism has only be around 150 years at most, and it is not without its critics. I was a biblical studies major in college, so this stuff isn't exactly new to me.

You should also know that proof would require both necessary and sufficient conditions. This is impossible, given the nature of the subject. Even if it were possible (which it isn't) to show the Bible is completely accurate in all that it says that can be verified by us, it would only show that God is a sufficient explanation for the Bible but not a necessary explanation. So, again, what do you mean by proof?

Answer 3

I do believe that one must be a Christian to understand the Bible. I believe a person must be born of the Spirit to understand the spiritual things of God. Reading or being able to quote a book does not mean a person has understanding of it. Satan knows the Scriptures better than most Christians or unbelievers--it doesn't mean he understands the things of God. If he had ever truly understood, he wouldn't be in the condition he is now. The difference between satan and most unbeliever's concerning the word of God is that he knows the Bible is true--he doesn't deny it's truth, he knows it is too late for him and he hates God and tries to twist the Scriptures to his own benefit--just as he did with Jesus in the wilderness.
Many things in the Bible can be proven, but many things also require faith. God knows that his wisdom seems like foolishness to man--it is only by His Spirit that we can understand spiritual truths. No offense intended here, but the fact that you require proof and you believe you have wisdom beyond the Scriptures, is proof that you don't truly "know" the spiritual things of God. It is possible for a person to be able to memorize and quote the entire Bible and not be any closer to the truth of it than if they had never read one sentence in it at all.

Answer 4

Your over-generalization is just the same as saying all Christians do understand the Bible....
I'm sure there is a great percentage of atheists who have not studied the Bible and reject it based on lack of faith.
Just the same, I am sure that there is a great percentage of Christians who have not studied the Bible and believe in God because of faith.
Faith is the key here, my friend. You are using your logic, God-given logic, to tell yourself that the Bible's teachings are false. I have not read the Bible front to back four times, but in what I have studied and applied, I first had the benefit of faith...I have known Jesus since I was a little girl and the last ten years I have grown in my logical knowledge of God.
I know that God exists, I know that Jesus died for my sins (and yours) on the cross and I know that God gave us the Bible as our guide to His Word. How do I prove it??? The love in my heart and the faith in my mind. I wish I could share it with you but I can't....it's up to each individual to make the choice. God Bless you!

Answer 5

You could read the bible 100 times and that does not mean you will understand it.
BIBLE=basic instructions before leaving Earth
The bible alone has no authority, only when used correctly as an instrument to further your pursuit of God is it useful. If you have no intentions of that then it is just a book. When I lived a life of sin, God saved me and I now use the bible to correct myself. I am not perfect but whenever I mess up I go back to the bible because I know it has something for me. A true believer a an intense desire to do the will of God, ifyou are not a true believer then what does it matter.

Answer 6

Thanks for the challenge! I'm up to it and I have done it and I'm still doing it! I will never prove the existence of God, but I believe there's plenty of support - scientifically, archeologically and historically, amonger other subjects - for the existence of the Christian God.

I'm glad to see that you've read and investigated the scriptures. However, I think that most atheists on this site have not read it. They have looked at it here and there, especially at verses that are seemingly contradictory or strange-sounding (out of context, usually), but they haven't read the entire story as the story of God's redemption for mankind.

That being said, most "Christians" haven't read the Bible through. If its the words of life to us, how can we NOT be reading it every opportunity we get?

Let me know any question you have, and I'll do my best to provide evidence supporting what I believe and I'll try to be open to what you have to say.

Thanks for the great question!

Answer 7

Wow... I think Ashley M quoted the entire Bible there...

But this is a common misconception. I know of many Atheists who have read the Bible. I even know of a few who are Atheist BECAUSE of reading the Bible.

Answer 8

You could read the Bible front to back and even memorize the whole book and that does not mean you will understand it. Even the Devil Himself ( I did not call you one so don't misquote me and claim that I did!) can quote scripture to the most learned of Preachers.

Answer 9

What i have noticed since being on here is

that most 'atheists' have a very good knowledge and understanding of the bible.

Because a lot of them have been christians at some stage but then came to thier senses....

Most of them can give these online preachers a run for their money.

So be careful with the challenging manner.....

Answer 10

Definitely not.
I know more about Christianity than most Christians that I know. I even know more about why people believe in Christianity than most Christians that I know.
Some people understand these things and reject them, some understand them and accept them, some do not bother to try to understand because they know that they will reject them, and some follow blindly.
It just depends on who you are, not what you are.