My dear Non-Believers, have you really examined the Bible?

Question

I have had many non-believers reply to my Judeo-Christian centered questions in the negative, but I wounder how many of you have really studied the Bible, and come to the conclusions of non-belief that you have? Or are you just repeating someone else's logical arguments and calling them your ideas?

How many of you understand the validity of ancient's stories for all cultures, are "word of mouth" story telling, and how critical it was to know that the many stories and prophecies outside of the Hebrew culture are based on the same principles of story telling?

Many of you say that you are athiests, and I wonder how many of you have read books by athiests that have come to a change of heart based on the scientific irrifutable facts of the study of ancient document keeping, and the way ancient scociety preserved it's history. The scientific process is the same for all archeologists, faith based or not.

Lee Strobel, the Case for Christ is a good start. Any thoughts?

I would hate to think that many of you would give up a chance to know for certian the extaordinary relationship you could have with God, because scociety in the last 100 years or so has done all it can to down play the importance of God in our national life, and our personal life as well.

What do you do in the midst of personal tradgey? The loss of a loved one, or like the 911 incident, where do you turn to find answers to these questions? To find peace in the midst of despair?

This world, this nation has become so sinful, and I personally don't believe that all athiests and non-believers are a bunch of amoral people just "doing what feels good". How do you cope without God in your lives?

Maybe this question is rhetorical, but I know some of you sould reevaluste your lives and I hope this question is a catlyst to do just that.

My Lord, 47 answers in 7 mins.

Answer 1

I really like your points and appreciate your question. I think you're getting at some good stuff and hopefully at least challenging believers and non-believers to think.

Answer 2

I went through the Bible cover to cover when I was 10. That's when I knew I didn't believe. Not so much of a coincidence, really.

I'm probably a unique kind of Atheist. I'm not anti-Christian. I have a religion, so I'm not anti-religion. I am very interested in a number of religions, so it may one day (or maybe already) be the case that I am multi-religious, despite being fully Atheistic (I do not believe in a God of any kind, so my religion is Atheistic).

I do have ONE problem with Christianity though, and it is partly relevant to your question. It's the relentless study of the Bible. Christians themselves admit that the Bible was written by humans. Is it not at all possible that parts of it are embellished and twisted to the political views of the authors?

In my view, there are such people as good Christians. These are the ones who follow the actions of Christ (such as embracing and loving all people, regardless of their religious beliefs) and the 10 commandments, and have no further use for the Bible.

There are a number of these people on Answers, and they are always forgiving and compassionate, instead of widening the rifts that exist on here between Christians and Atheists.

I thank you for asking this question in a respectful and non-imposing way, and I hope that you find my answer to be of the same nature.

May peace go with you throughout your life.

Answer 3

Your question looks to be more of a deflective one. I said that because there are many christians that have never go past their declared statement "everything in the bible is true". Due to the fact they rather have a pastor, preacher or whomever amongst the workers in the house of "the lord" read it to them. Even if they do read it on their own they will read without in depth reading, thinking and questioning, but will select what they want to believe in as well as ignore. Then they set out and preach to others thinking they never read the bible. I'm willing to believe there are more atheists that could recite good and bad scriptures than any so call real christians. The bible is one of the many reasons why there are turned atheists from christianity as well as atheists that have read and never wanted to go into christianity or any of its denominations and extended denominations and whatever else.

Atheists do not believe in the same things hence the beauty of atheism we can choose to believe on how we got here or choose not to worry. I believe we can't recreate how we got here other than male and female having fun in the sack. I just don't bother wondering way back. I would rather take science to help me understand things because it can expand on information. Unlike the quick and short answer god I do not get to get anything after that just doesn't cut it for me.

There are people who have lost someone very dear, have gone through terrible disasters but we do not all handle them in the same matter. I do not see how a deity could help all if he has in fact helped one he might as well help all.

The whole a-moral thing is a joke, how can I be sure the bible old and new testaments are good sources for morals. Morals come from society and social interaction (read up on it and it will not mention god or religion) lessons learned, right and wrong and even critical thinking is how I see it. Not some book, the good book says anyone working on the Sabbath should be put to death. Do you really think that would or should be in cooperated as a moral in our lives?

Answer 4

Really examined? As in great detail? No, I've never really examined the bible.

But yes, I have looked at it because I was interested in beliefs outside of my own atheism and I can honestly say that it made no logical sense whatsoever.

Concerning the relationship with god: you have to try to understand that we don't have anyone to have that relationship with.

I'm sorry if this condescending, but a lot of theists don't fully grasp that we're not turning a blind eye to god, we just don't believe that there is anyone up there. I think blind faith is just something that you have the capacity to do or not; most atheists, apart from those inducted into it from an early age and have never looked into religion, don't.

I cope without god in my life because I've never had god in my life, I don't know what it feels like. I don't trust much, so I don't think I could ever feel that. But that's ok, because (no offense to the religious) it seems like the placebo effect - you think its a positive influence, so your mind becomes that influence. I'm strong enough mentally to do that without god.

I don't think I need to re-evaluate my life; I'm probably more moral that some religious out there. For example, I'm deathly allergic to bee stings and yet I don't kill them, whereas I know christians who kill spiders because they're freaky.

Oh, and you alone won't be a catalyst - the world hasn't succeeded yet, so I doubt anyone would read this and go, "Wow, (s)he is so right - I need to become a christian this second!"

Answer 5

"If the non-believer would not believe the bible is a hundred% actual, infallible and the direct word of God, quoting from it does no longer possibly PROOVE something for that guy or woman. could it?" How do you call your self a non-believer in case you be an element of the bible, notwithstanding if below a hundred%? particularly some issues that a classic now have been basically thought at one time. particularly some issues that are thought now would be prooven some day. If one costs the Bible to grant an explaination to you, it incredibly is basically to coach section of the source of which they responded you. i understand i'm able to't provide you faith, (if i ought to i could provide it to all human beings,) I grant no data. yet I encourge you to seek for yourselfs and you will locate the solutions. the place you initiate your seek is as much as you.

Answer 6

I thought your original question was horribly condescending.. and then I read your additional details and realized that you were previously being tame.

Have I read the Bible? Not all of it, but I am still reading it. I am 34 and I have been an atheist all my life. I was an atheist as a child, many many years before I ever opened a book written by Richard Dawkins or Sam Harris or the like. It is not merely the specifics of your religion that make me an atheist, but all religions and all concepts of a god(s) that are too far-fetched for me to believe. That is why I am an atheist: I do not believe in fairy tales.

How did I deal with 9/11? I cried. For a short time I was afraid (I lived on a military base which put us into heightened alert).. and then I sought help from a psychologist. I talked to him about it. I talked to my husband and friends about it. I educated myself on the history of al Qaeda. I coped.

How do I deal with loss of a family member? A month after 9/11, my grandfather died. He was like a father to me, and I loved him very much. I wrote his eulogy which was read at his memorial. That was cathartic for me. I made sure to not mourn his death, but to celebrate his life and cherish the time I had with him! Aside from the initial shock (he had not been ill), I felt no lingering sorrow, only joy that I had been so incredibly fortunate to know such a wonderful man.

You can take your talk of sin and shove it, sir. I lead a very moral, fulfilling, happy life, as do many other people without your placebo-deity. The question you should be asking is, if the majority of people in the US are Christian or at least believe in God, why is there so much sin? And please, don't blame it on some secular campaign to destroy God. That is a cop-out. Perhaps your religion is not the all-wonderful and necessary answer to leading a moral, happy life that it is too often promoted as being?

Answer 7

I have read and studies the bible for over 20 years.

You make an interesting point,

"How many of you understand the validity of ancient's stories for all cultures, are "word of mouth" story telling, and how critical it was to know that the many stories and prophecies outside of the Hebrew culture are based on the same principles of story telling?"

The important words you use are 'ancient' and 'story telling'. I agree the bible is nothing more than an ancient collection of Hebrew and earlier cultural stories. They are myths from the dark ages which have absolutely no place in a modern educated society.

Answer 8

I've read the Bible and Case for Christ. Consider this: Christians consider the Bible the word of God. That leaves no room for allegory or metaphor. There is no legitimate reason to believe in God and NOT take the Bible literally. No principles of story telling can make the Bible true.

Now, genuine scientific acheivements have been made by humans. They are NOT described in any uncertain terms because they are intended to communicate honestly and precisely with everyone.

Historical curiosity is no excuse for pandering in mythological beliefs. If I want to know about eating pork I'll ask a scientist, thanks.

Answer 9

As a former devout Christian of 18 years, a pentacostal who studied the bible regularly... I can say yes. In third grade, while the other kids were drawing pictures of spooky houses and ghosts in art class, I was preaching the dangers of "consorting with spirits". From a young age I knew the arguments inside and out against the occult, againts homosexuality, etc. Anyone who knew me then would fall on the floor and die to know that I've come to see the entire subject in a compleatly diffrent light.

While many people who attack the bible and its teachings in fact, have not even sat through one sermon in their lives.... I feel confident that I know what I believe and I do so because I know both sides of the arguement. I'm always ready to challenge a fellow non-believer to look at the bible as what it is, and I hope that more Chrisians will do as I have and at least try and look at various subjects from the eyes of other people.

As for people who did not believe going back to Christianity... I can say that it is very easy to see why they would. 1) Our society is primarily Christian, so a choice to be a christian easily finds support in most families/communities as long as said person dosen't go extreme and preachy 2) because of the strength of the influence of these teachings on our eary lives it can take years of study and research to finally remove yourelf from all of the patterns and beliefs that Chrisitianity instills in a person. When things get rough or "scary", one almost automatically turns back to old ways of dealing with these things.

Oh well, it's really hard to try and convince someone of something when they are ultra set in whatever it is they think. I know, I've been there... to the other side and back again. The only one who can change you is you, and if you're a Christian-- then the only one who can change others is God, and just leave it at that.

Answer 10

I was a believer for the first twenty years of my life because I had not read the Bible, and because I believed my Granny who had only a Primary School education and read to us from the Bible every day. But all around me I saw believers in gods being evil to people in their own religions and worse to people of other religions. When my Granny died, I began to read the Bible and the scriptures of all religions. For years I was on the verge of losing my mind trying to cope with the existence of evil. And then I made the painful decision that there just could not be a good and almighty god anywhere. And, gradually I began to live happily ever after. Here I am. Happy. Sane. Tolerant of all peace-loving persons, whatever their religion. The only really spiritual pain in my life every day now, is my fear of what my Granny is going to do to me when we meet again. A belief in a god is not necessary for a belief in life after death. Contact me, friend. We will learn from each other.

Answer 11

Well I was raised baptist and memorized at least 1/3 of the bible. I did study the bible, the Quran. I have studied many religions. I have yet to find a religion that has logic and truth in it. I am not atheist and have never claimed it, is there a rule or something that says because I claim no religion that I must be atheist? I do believe in an after life but I can not believe in the christian 'god'. Not only are a portion of organized religions murderous and judgmental they are also hypocritical.