(Atheists Only)?

Question

If you have attempted to read and understand the Bible, did not you sense the love therein ??

Answer 1

yes
religion here so address everyone

Answer 2

Not only did I attempt to read the Bible, I succeeded in reading it 3 times. Nope, no love, just a lot of "worship me... OR ELSE" threats mixed with some vengeful slaughters.

Answer 3

Of course I read the bible. Several times - I went to a religious school. I didn't have any major problems with religion before I read it, but after reading it, I couldn't help but think it was a big scam. The book has equal parts love and hatred, understanding and bigotry, compassion and utter violence. It was disturbing, to say the least.

Answer 4

No, I didn't. And I said I wasn't going to tell this long story anymore ...

I went to church every Sunday for several years. When I hit pre-adolescence, I started realizing that some of the things I was being taught didn't make sense to me. I started doubting christianity. I talked to my mother, who called our pastor and asked him to meet with me. He told me that it was perfectly normal to doubt, but that if I would immerse myself in the bible and pray to god with an open heart, he would reveal the truth to me and help me believe.

So that's what I did. Every day for a year, I read the bible and I prayed constantly. I spent countless nights crying and begging god to help me believe. I was even afraid that I really wasn't saved, so I prayed (with a repentful heart, because I thought for sure I had done something to displease god) "The Sinner's Prayer" more times than I can remember ... but I felt nothing.

After a year of this, I came to two conclusions: either god did not care about me, or he did not exist.

Because I was not yet ready to break away from the stigma of religion, I went on a journey to find god. Surely, if I couldn't find him in the bible, I would be able to find him somewhere. I studied many religions -- judaism, hinduism, wicca, satanism -- and they all left me with the same empty feeling.

Finally, when I was about 18, a mixture of my personal experience, my religious studies, and the lack of any real evidence led me to believe that god couldn't be found because he didn't exist ... in any size, shape, or form.

Losing my faith wasn't easy for me. I don't choose to not acknowledge god because I want to live an immoral life free of consequences and responsiblity. I wanted very badly to believe, but I had to face the truth eventually.

Answer 5

Why is it some believe every time one opens a bible a transcending aura of holiness and radiance rains down upon its openner. It's merely a book with the same literary techniques and presents the same tones and emotions as any other book. Just because it says "Holy Bible" on it doesn't make it the final answer to all things "moral" and "holy".

Answer 6

You COULDN'T have read the Bible if you claim there's love within.

From there Elisha went up to Bethel. While he was on his way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him. "Go up baldhead," they shouted, "go up baldhead!" The prophet turned and saw them, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two shebears came out of the woods and tore forty two of the children to pieces. (2 Kings 2:23-24 NAB)

Make ready to slaughter his sons for the guilt of their fathers; Lest they rise and posses the earth, and fill the breadth of the world with tyrants. (Isaiah 14:21 NAB)

The glory of Israel will fly away like a bird, for your children will die at birth or perish in the womb or never even be conceived. Even if your children do survive to grow up, I will take them from you. It will be a terrible day when I turn away and leave you alone. I have watched Israel become as beautiful and pleasant as Tyre. But now Israel will bring out her children to be slaughtered." O LORD, what should I request for your people? I will ask for wombs that don't give birth and breasts that give no milk. The LORD says, "All their wickedness began at Gilgal; there I began to hate them. I will drive them from my land because of their evil actions. I will love them no more because all their leaders are rebels. The people of Israel are stricken. Their roots are dried up; they will bear no more fruit. And if they give birth, I will slaughter their beloved children." (Hosea 9:11-16 NLT)

"Then I heard the LORD say to the other men, "Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! Kill them all – old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin your task right here at the Temple." So they began by killing the seventy leaders. "Defile the Temple!" the LORD commanded. "Fill its courtyards with the bodies of those you kill! Go!" So they went throughout the city and did as they were told." (Ezekiel 9:5-7 NLT)

Anyone who is captured will be run through with a sword. Their little children will be dashed to death right before their eyes. Their homes will be sacked and their wives raped by the attacking hordes. For I will stir up the Medes against Babylon, and no amount of silver or gold will buy them off. The attacking armies will shoot down the young people with arrows. They will have no mercy on helpless babies and will show no compassion for the children. (Isaiah 13:15-18 NLT)

Is this the kind of "love" you speak of? The Bible is FULL of this. I can list hundreds of passages that condone vicious murdurous assaults on women, children, and babies, I can list passages that condone rape, I can list passages that condone slavery. If this is "God's" idea of "Love", then He can keep it.
And yes, I've read it. More than once.

Answer 7

I'm agnostic but I'm answering anyways. I have read the bible twice cover to cover, once on my own and once as part of a comparative religions class in college.

I saw plenty of contradiction, I saw plenty of threats of hellfire and brimstone, I saw a deity that throws tantrums when it's supposed creation doesn't do what it says. What little love the bible shows is overshadowed by the ills of it.

I was raised christian until I gained a mind that let me see beyond that book into the world around me.

Answer 8

What love? Did you not read the Whole bible? or just selectively chosen paragraph?

Answer 9

There is no love in a god that would destroy the entire population of the earth save a select few. Do you believe there were no innocents who died in that flood myth of yours?

Do you think there is love in a god who commands that we stone to death children who curse their parents?

Or love in a god who demands that you hate your family?

Your god is a jealous god, yet there is no jealousy in love (1 Corinthians 13) How does that work?

Answer 10

sorry no. when you see an aheist couple holding hands do you not see love. if god exist he was probily just a man, who told storys about what he did way back when to entertian childern and make sure they would grow up with the right morals. as the kids grew up thay thought he was a god and wrote about him

Answer 11

I like all the love in Revelations when God is torturing people for the "sin" of not believing in him. The giant locusts eating their flesh but not killing them was the best part.