To all Atheists - Why don't you take time out and read the Bible from start to finish and come back with your

Question

findings. Honest guys only please

Just seeing all these replies was worth the 5pts

Answer 1

From what I understand in reading answers in here, a lot of atheists have read the bible.
I don't think people make the choice to be an atheist lightly, what I mean is that I think they do research and then base their decision that they do not believe in it, from those findings.

I am a Christian, but I believe that's the way it is.

Answer 2

I'm not an atheist, but I'm a non-Christian. You seem to think those are equivalent, so I will reply.

When there is little to suggest that the time taken to read the entire Bible would be well spent, why would you expect anyone who is not a Christian to spend the time? It is very long, after all, and includes a lot of pretty incomprehensible stuff and quite a lot of boring stuff, if you can see it from an outsiders point of view.

You remind me of the man who was discussing the war in El Salvador back when that was active. When anyone else gave an opinion, he said "Have you been there?" When they said they had not been (as who would visit a war zone without good reason?), he said "Then you have no right to say anything about it."

The arrogance of those who say the only way to learn about something is to spend that kind of effort amazes me. You might think you don't really want to reach out to non-Christians. After all, even children raised in Christian households are told Bible stories, not expected to read the whole thing. Why not offer some of your favorite Bible stories instead? Or even more, offer to take your "target" to a Christian coffee house or other social activity, where they can learn something of your beliefs in a comfortable way.

See if you can find a DVD of "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" for an example of patient missionary activity. The good lady translated Bible stories into Chinese, and told them as entertainment at the Inn, which was kept unusually clean and free from vermin, and served wholesome food at a reasonable price. She and her successor won a lot of hearts that way.

Answer 3

I have actually, 3 times in my life. Once for my parents, once for history class and the second time, for philosophy of religion class. My prof was an arrogant catholic a ss h ole...

I'm not sure what findings you would like me to have found?!

There are some very good fables there that teach good lessens. Some very old letters and texts which were selected to be the best representation of the word of god a few 100 years after the events were to occur. It was selected and edited by people with an agenda.

It is no further proof of god than Beauty and the Beast is of a witch that can turn men into creatures.

The bible does not provoke an emotional nor personal response for me.

Furthermore, I feel it is sad that to many self claimed Christians corrupt the teachings of the man they claim to love, admire and follow.

If a religion can not work in practice, it doesn't work. Through out history, the daily practice of far to many "Christians" prove, Christianity is difficult if not impossible to put into practice.

Law based Buddhist philosophy speaks to me the way I am guessing the bible speaks to you. How about you read the Lotus Sutra and come back with your findings.

Answer 4

Bloomin' heck - have YOU read all that stuff about rape, about David exposing his genitals, about cheating and lying, about men having sex with their daughters etc? What are you hoping I'm going to come back here with? Come on, surely you can see that the bible is a very weird book with some stunningly beautiful stuff and some that is frankly cuckoo. As a description of real people it's often pretty spot on - motivated by sex, power, wealth etc.

Ah, I know, you're going to say you mean the New Testament (it's always a good idea to be clear in your questions). Well, Jesus sounds pretty cool, though he never actually says much about this son of God stuff, does he? More of a good Jew, I'd say. I know the pope has just had a go at trying to prove that he did say he was the son of God but I've not got round to that book yet, and the very fact that the pope has to try proving it speaks volumes. What are you hoping I'll find? A nice set of stories about the Jesus chap at the start, a book at the end that's somewhat psychotic and a lot of panegyric of the Jesus character in between with huge judgementalism about everybody who isn't a follower of Jesus. Hmmm.

Answer 5

If it didn't do much the first time I read it, why would it matter now?

Really, I have a busy schedule. I'm in the middle of two books right now and haven't picked them up in a few weeks. It's pretty sad. So, my reading schedule is not that forgiving right now.

I've only reread a few books. I generally read books once and leave it at that. There are just too many books to ignore. I've reread Catch-22, A Clockwork Orange, the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and A Brave New World. Those are all very interesting books that draw me in every time I pick them up.

And, no offense, but the Bible does not hold a candle to those books. The Bible is dry and boring. It has a few interesting tales, such as God losing his bet to Satan when Job cursed him and how God spared two sisters who were virtuous enough to rape their father.

But there are much better books out there. If the Bible is truly the word of God, then it would have sparked something interesting the first time I went through it.

And why isn't the Bible the word of God? Because men wrote it. It's been proven. My Bible says it was published in Michigan. Men wrote it; not God.

Answer 6

Surprisingly MOST atheists I have met have read MORE and studied MORE of the bible than most Christians.


And I am a Christian and this is my HONEST observation.

I cannot tell you how many discussions I have with Christians who are REALLY weak in their biblical knowledge. They never studied it independently at all. They converted in an emotional way and after that just relied on church services, popular books and all they can do is regurgitate sermons and Scriptures they learned from services.

Sad but true. Take a look around this Answers section and you will see EXACTLY what I am talking about.

Answer 7

First, the vast majority of atheists HAVE read the bible (and is often part of the reason why they are atheists). Yet it seems many christians have never read the bible cover to cover, relying instead on their priest's interpretation.

Secondly, no one could read the bible in an hour. At least not thoroughly.

Answer 8

The problem is many people suppose that, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" means that listening to sermons or reading the Word will bring salvation, but this can not be divorced from heart matters. Jesus spoke in the parable of the seed and the sower of those who,"...in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." He also reproved the Pharisees: "Ye search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me that ye may have life."

The problem is twofold: hearing without intent to obey, and filling the head with knowlege apart from a relationship with God.

Tom

Answer 9

Dahlink! To which bible are your referring? I have read the bible that was the reference in my family as I grew up. I have never believed the data presented in the bible. From early childhood to the present. As a child, it wasn't believable, and as an adult I have recognized its value as a tool for social control, as well as the reinforcement of gender dominance in christian beliefs. If any respondents need an acceptable and non partisan philosophy to conduct their life practices with, the golden rule is a wonderful alternative.

Answer 10

Sixteen times in nine translations and I just received Isaac Asimov's Guide to the Bible Vols I & II from Amazon today.

I've read both before but I wanted to read through it with the good doctor again.

Isaac is a very wise man.