If the Bible is the biggest selling book of all time?

Question

why have so few Christians actually read it?

Sitting in a pew for story hour once a week is not the same as reading it.

Reading excerpts and verses out of context is not the same as reading it.

And why are so many Atheists former believers who made the mistake of reading it?

It certainly isn't the most read collection of stories, since most of those 'sold' copies are sitting in hotel room drawers and more people open the yellow pages when they are on vacation.

Answer 1

The fourth is Mein Kempf, what does that say about people?

Answer 2

If you count all the different versions as the same book, it probably is the all-time best seller. It has been called so as long as I can remember. But that started back when the only one most people knew about was the King James version, or the Catholic one, the name of which I do not recall. Now there are hundreds, including some in vernacular, some which have very strange interpretations, and a great many that seem to be determined to sugar-coat the basic messages.

I remember someone saying that "Quotations of Chairman Mao" threatened its record, but that may have been propaganda. With the communists, you can never tell.

Also, I am told that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, so it is possible that the Koran has now been printed in sufficiently large quantities to challenge the Bible, especially if you do not count the various versions as the same book.

Answer 3

Every Christian I know has and does read it. Perhaps you know some very poor examples in real life?

Its funny you say that because atheists and unbelievers of the like DO just read excerpts and verses out of context they find in their atheist blogs. Perhaps if they understood it to begin with, maybe they wouldve stuck with it.

I think being that it was the first book ever printed should send a strong message as well. And theres no listing in the yellow pages under SALVATION, the most important thing we will ever seek.

Answer 4

For what it's worth, I think most of the Bibles in hotel room drawers are donated by the Gideons ( http://www.gideons.org/ ).

Something I ran into several years ago was difficulty in keeping names and places straight. The following is from Deuteronomy 3, but there's no shortage of such verses:

"All the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan."

The names are unfamiliar to many of us and for many of us, no more comes to mind from seeing the name of one than from seeing the name of another.

The rituals are little, if any, better. From Leviticus 1,

"8 And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
9 But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD."

Even if I were determined to memorize what to do with which parts of the animal, what kind of god enjoys the smell of burning flesh? If a man burned himself alive, would He enjoy that smell as well?

The case for skepticism will remain, so let's keep reading.

Answer 5

The Bible takes alot of patience and insight to get through it.

This is the generation of 1 minute potatoes and E-mail, so people don't view the bible as an investment with their time.
Pirates or Spider-man, now there's an investment. Pop culture.

It' easier to learn by osmosis. Go to church, rub up against someone who acts like they may know something,,,,,,, feels good, so it must be true.

Or is it that people just can't read anymore?

Answer 6

Father Guido, I would love to answer your question properly.
I must confess that I do not believe that it is the best selling book of all time. Nobody has ever shown me any sales figures that could be examined for being accurate.
They also never mention which version, author or publisher.

Edit:
Hey, that is weird, I have a copy of Mein Kampf and have read it. I also have the collected writings of Karl Marx, and a Koran.
Do only atheists read fundamental historical works?

Answer 7

The bible is hard to read, harder to understand, and even harder to follow. Christian society has set up a system where we donate our money to clergy who spend their lives studying the scripture and supplementary texts so that they can give meaning to the ancient historic tales.

And you're right. Faith does get tested when you read the bible, especially if your faith is based on bumper stickers, good feelings, and a belief that every word in the bible is true. That kind of thinking can set you up for huge disappointment.

Answer 8

I wonder that myself.

I also wonder why they haven't taken the time to actually study history to find out about the origin of their belief.

I think the former believers became atheists because of reading their bibles cover to cover and knowing that this all just didn't add up.

I know for me it certainly was a factor in my decision to leave christianity- after the 50th complete read-through, I just couldn't do it anymore.

Answer 9

I have read it through many times. Have read it in the motels... there are scripture on the wall in the public restrooms nation wide, and many invitations for the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ for eternal life on those same walls.<><
I'm sorry... what was your ?

Answer 10

I agree when it is so popular and such a part of the human experience it should be required reading in the schools.

Answer 11

So few Christians have read it? Where are you doing your research? That is not true at all. So few Atheists and reversionism Christians just didn't understand it fully because they didn't truly believe or they lost interest. Everyone loses interest at one time or another I did too, but I came back to the truth and no matter whether they understand it fully or not is not key, key is to believe in Christ and his dying on the Cross for your sins.... and all the stories and parables are for teaching us how to deal with this life now, what God likes and what God doesn't like.... that's what it is for. Just because you don't understand some or all of it doesn't mean that you wouldn't some day be able to apply certain aspects of it to your life one week at a time, one day at a time.... it's all experiences and Christian walks of life.... we can learn from. Sure times have changed and Mosiac Law is not in action and lots of the parables you don't understand because when he spoke .. he spoke to the people in terms they could understand at that time, which we might not if we didn't know exactly what was going on at that particular time, but you get in with a great Pastor/teacher who studies this from its origional times and language and you get a more clear picture of it.... Don't knock it... try it.