Do athiests understand the bible?

Question

can someone understand it in the RIGHT way if they dont have the holy spirit?
again the Q is not meant to caus offense.

that should be atheists.

Answer 1

i think they have read the bible but not truly understood as i have seen many questions out of context if they did understand (had the holy spirit in there heart) they wouldn't be atheists xx

Answer 2

As a former christian and current Atheist, I know that the answer is yes and no. First everyone in society has different views of what is 'right', your 'right' that you are talking about comes from the fact that you are christian and that the bible gives you what is 'right' and what is 'wrong'. In other society's other people do not necessarily think the way we do, and have the same 'rights, and wrongs', even in America there are different 'rights' and 'wrongs', this even varies from person to person. So to answer your q, the answer is yes and no, you are asking from your stand point that Atheists are bad because we do not follow a religion, such as your Christianity.
Just because we are Atheist though does not make us a bad person and that we do not understand what is 'right' and what is 'wrong'. We understand just as well, and sometimes more then Christians, who's believes of 'right' and 'wrong' is limited by a book that people wrote thousands of years ago.

Answer 3

Good question...
I have read several sections in the Bible and have a good understanding of the bits I havn`t . However I have read the Old testement as nothing more than the ancient history of several cultures slightly embelished,the accounts of migration,war and state policies do bare a close resemblance to what actually happened,however the references to the words of God and miracles do not stand up to investigation,ie the burning bush,parting of the red sea,God spoke to Abraham etc.
The refernces to Adam and Eve as the first humans on earth just don`t make any sence,we just don`t believe the concept that it happened that way,it doesn`t take into account the geological and anthrapalogical evidence out there that we see as true evidence.
Sa for the new testament It was rewritten some 4oo years after the death of Jesus and heavily distorted by the Roman scribes.That is historical fact.Even the Vatican conceids that it can`t all be taken lterally.
This doesn`t however say that the majority of the Ten Commandmentd are not a good system for all societies to base thier laws upon.I believe most of them are,Steal ,kill etc.
The New Testament is full of good advice it`s the divinity of Jesus we doubt,after all Judaism accepts that Jeseus was a prophet as does Islam but that`s all. just a prophet.
Christianity is bashed about a lot today and I believe it`s because of all the double meanings,contradictions and advances in science that we have today that has put under the spotlight.
As you can guess I am totally athiest and have been for most of my life ,I have thought about religeon in an objective way and my conclusions like so many others is that we are not the ones deluding ourselves.
hope this goes some way to help you understand why ,to us God is a concept and not a reality

Answer 4

Im no longer an athiest and that i'm no longer a christian. i hit upon that the respond doesnt fail on your a million or 2. a individual will have faith strongly in what makes the main experience for them. Intellgance isn't a ingredient in this desion Your #2 determination as a flaw as i see it. occasion i replaced into raised christen, besides the indisputable fact that via the age 10 i begain to to discover different thought. I even have examine the bible front to lower back approximately 20 circumstances so one would desire to declare i comprehend the instructions ok besides the indisputable fact that the relgion isn't for me

Answer 5

Well I am athiest (well more undecided really!) I m the kind of person that does not believe something until I see it myself. To me, the bible, as inspirational and idealistic as it may be, is just a book written over the years, which millions of people follow, without wondering who really wrote it. This is the case with every other organized religion. I believe the bible is probably just a nice story, yes life would be much easier if it were true, as everything would all be explained, but like I said, don't believe anything til I see it!

Answer 6

do CHRISTIANS understand the bible would be a better question. Most Christians believe in doing the general good, so do Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, Shintoists, and etc etc. The problem with Christianity is not the atheists not understanding the bible, it's those who work as the "interpreters" of the bible that are causing trouble.

And it doesn't matter if atheists understand the bible or not, they do not believe in a superior being guiding/puppeteering their lives

Answer 7

I can answer that I have studied the bible, that I once beleived whole heartedly that it was the word of god. In that light, I thought I understood it. I now understand the bible to be a collection of tribal histories, myths and political statements, with no basis in history or fact. Everyone believes that they read the bible the RIGHT way. Having the "spirit" seems to imply that god is reading over your shoulder and helping with the hard parts. More likely that is the role of a parent or preacher, who will give you the answer as it was taught to them.

Answer 8

Some people argue that Atheists understand the Bible better

Answer 9

i have read it umpteen times so i have more knowledge than Christians on the subject.i believe in a logical approach and not believe in everything you read.i truly believe the bible to be the devil in disguise.have you ever thought that you might just be doing the devils work for him.i believe all wars and famine would cease if you gave it a rest.why don't you all try it.? it couldn't be any worse.

Answer 10

The Bible refers to those who accept God's word as being the word of God, not men: "which is at work in you who believe." Conversely, God's word (in written form, the Bible) will NOT 'work' in those who disbelieve. It will be nonsense or silliness to everyone who just calls it the word of men. So anyone who does not believe God exists could not possibly read it as the word of God, will fail to understand what it is really saying and so fail to see its power at work. (1 Thessalonians ch 2 vs 13)

Answer 11

Christians often say that, don't they? It's a highly effective way of nullifying any other view. You don't have the spirit, you can't possibly be right, I don't have to listen to you or consider what you say.

You're also assuming that there is a RIGHT way to understand it. Hasidim, Orthodox Jews who value continuity and cohesiveness and know their textual traditions inside out and backwards, don't agree with each other. And that's alright. Jewish tradition is full of these disagreements. We carry all of them around because we can learn from them.

There is no right way. But we all have much to learn from each other. It's when we close our ears to others that we fall into sin.