Should we as atheist have great respect for the bible as literature?

Question

I have atheist friend (sorta) who has torn up bibles, burned them and no joke wiped his **** with its pages. I told him he disgusted me and now he says that i'm not a "true" atheist because I respect the bible. I told him he was more zealous than most preachers in the worst way and now we do not discuss religion. The story is really secondary to my point but should we respect the bible? It is clearly a work of fiction but it is an amazing book and the OT is one of the oldest books known to man. I still enjoy reading it. I would no more burn the bible than i would a copy of the illiad or moby dick. Can't we as atheists respect the bible without worshipping it?

Answer 1

We should have as much respect for the Bible as any other book. While we should be allowed to be critical of the content, it does provide an insight of the way of life at the time it was written. It is a work of literature and should be treated in such a manner.
If you can have respect for the works of Shakespeare, the Bible, Koran or any other religious book warrant equal respect. But this does not mean that we have to accept the books as the word of God (or even admit that God exists). We should be allowed to debate the content of the books and the relevance they have (if any) to modern society.

Answer 2

Good question. Of course you can. I don't really like Barry Bonds as a person but I like to watch him play. I think that your friend is bordering on rediculous by doing the things that he's doing. I'm curious, why would he choose the Bible to do that to? Why not the Quran or another religious book? It's funny how some non-Christians choose to hate Christianity and not any other religions. Especially when it's predominant message is to love.

Even if you don't believe it, it can certainly be looked at as a great book. It was written by dozens of different authors over hundreds, if not thousands of years yet it is remarkebly consistent throughout (some may disagree with this statement but they probably haven't done any real investigation...likeby reading the paragraph before and after the "inconsistency").

There were also events prophecised early in the Bible that ended up happening later. There are also things that have happened 50-60 years ago that were written about in the Bible. There are things yet to come that were written about in the Bible. If you like reading fiction authors thoughts on what might happen in the future, why not read what the Bible has to say about it? You might find it to be pretty fascinating even if you still don't agree with it.

For a good, "non-religious" type book that is full of wisdom and good ideas, try reading Proverbs. It's full of short quotes that make a lot of sense. Your friend probably would think it's a stupid book.

Answer 3

I'd be less likely to burn a Bible than a copy of Moby Dick (booooooring!).

The Bible is great literature in places. I'd put it about on par with the Epic of Gilgamesh and a step below Beowulf and the Illiad.


However, the Bible has also caused a lot more harm than any of those other books mentioned (unless you count people dying of boredom while reading Melville), so some people will have more emotional negative reactions to the Bible. That's their right.

Answer 4

Actually atheists are break up up at the Bible so far as it is literary pleasant. From a poorly written and translated bunch of fables to excellent literature that blames God for the sins of the Jewish humans. In the primary verse of the bible a number of matters are situated in seven Herew phrases which can be ten phrases in English. time God writer (detail of God) subject area Look at it for your self; "In the commencing God created the heaven and the earth." Then the bible give an explanation for within the subsequent verse that subject had no sort and God starts the "construction system". Not handiest but additionally "waters" has a designated which means for the period of scriptures. Genesis one million:two "And the earth was once with out sort, and void; and darkness was once upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (In the final booklet of the bible the waters drift from God...) Do you no longer surprise that what God wrote to us has which means on and in a couple of approach? In the 3rd verse "vigour". Genesis one million:three And God mentioned, Let there be gentle: and there was once gentle. _______ The first bankruptcy of the bible explains greater than such a lot understand. The first 3 verses give an explanation for greater than technology got here up with for 5000+ years of human historical past. Atheists are blind and browse with out skills or figuring out. So do many Christians or they might no longer trouble with comparable to God calls: Psalms 14: one million The idiot hath mentioned in his middle, There is not any God. They are corrupt, they've performed abominable works, there's none that doeth well. two The LORD seemed down from heaven upon the youngsters of guys, to peer if there have been any that did have an understanding of, and search God. three They are all long past apart, they're all in combination turn out to be filthy: there's none that doeth well, no, no longer one. _______ And those who search and have an understanding of are long past? And the ones left filthy? Perhaps the hyperlink:

Answer 5

Some parts were clearly intended to be fiction, but others were not. It is a diverse body of literature.

Some parts are quite good, but some really are quite poor. You should respect everyone's gods unless they endanger the world. There are also lessons to be learned form it, just as there are from reading Terry Pratchett or Herman Melville or Mark Twain.

There is a lot less to be learned from it than Terry Pratchett or Mark Twain, but there are still things in it to learn.

It should be treated as any other component of ancient literature and regarded on its merits as a collection of books that record the views of a people.

Answer 6

The bible is mostly not very well written. Compare it to the Bhagavad Gita or the works of Homer it is pretty lousy. But it's been very influential and we all ought to respect it for that. You can't understand most of western art and literature without an appreciation of what the bible meant a different times. And for the pious, that wasn't always devotional - the great art of the Renaissance might have been inspired by religion but it was often commissioned by religious dignitaries for political status. Pride always comes into these things.

And yes, your friend is a jerk.

Answer 7

I think so. You also don't have to remind religious people that it is obviously a work of fiction either.

Non-religious people should not be afraid to learn about the beliefs of others and I wish religious people would be more open about learning the Atheist or Agnostic point of view without being judgemental or afraid that some knowledge will shake the foundations of their life. I think most Atheists who express anger and passion about religion are reacting to that holier than thou attitude.

I don't think either side should go looking for a fight since it is pointless.

When I was younger I used to engage religious people in arguments just to be mean and feel superior... what a waste of time and negative energy that was.

Answer 8

As boring as Moby Dick, but I'd never treat a book that way no matter what I thought of its contents. I respect the written word, no matter how much I disagree with its contents. Plus it does have historic value if not literary value. In fact I have several versions on my bookshelf that I keep for reference.

That guy has anger issues.

Answer 9

A resounding yes, Read Song of Solomon, it's a love song in poetry. Read the old testament, it's an edge of your seat mystery, lots murder and mayhem and stories of love and deception!

But even more interestingly, all those who call it a fiction are having to face the fact that as each century passes more and more of what is in the Bible has been proven factual and accurate. Places and date mentioned are now being confirmed by excavations and scientific discoveries.

Names of past kings and long lost cities are now being documented and proven by scientist who are themselves beginning to see the truths laid out in what we all know is the phenomenon of the book who dispite many attempts to corrupt its contents, change its chapters, as well as the Catholic Church's' attempts to foil its true message and (historical fact) even its dissemination in the early years, a book that has been falsely copied and reproduced thousands of times for hundreds of years, continues to use its power to speak to man kind.

Answer 10

I am not speaking here as an atheist...but...

Although the Bible's accuracies can be debated, especially those that cover miracles, etc., there is certainly a valuable historical record found in the Bible that is supported by archeological records as well as independent historical documents.

Not everything in the Bible requires "faith" . Some items are historical facts, which can be supported elsewhere...