I see so many questions from Atheists and Agnostics about Christianity answered with "If you'd read the bible, you'd know," or something similar. Many Christians seem to assume that simply reading the bible will turn anyone over to their side.
Actually, for many people, it is reading the bible that finally shows us that Christianity is not the right path for us. That's the way it was with me.
So yes, I've read the bible (more than once), and no, I am not a Christian. if anything, reading the bible raised more unanswerable questions than it put to rest.
What do you think?
2007-09-16 09:27:49 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Wise One, so pretending I believe something I don't will make me think it;s ok that your god has killed thousands and that people still use your book as an excuse to do horrible things? Sorry, I can't do that. I believed in your god before I read the bible, and now I don't.
2007-09-16 09:38:09 · update #1
Pastor Art, what a convenient cop out.
2007-09-16 09:40:30 · update #2
I don"t assume that ; There are two Major Hurdles
that an Atheist can"t climb over; # 1 Holy Spirit--#2 Man"s Faith,It is a closed book to an Unbeliever;
2007-09-16 09:49:15 · answer #1 · answered by section hand 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
This is a very good question.
Many Christians seem to assume that if a Non-Christian read the Bible and don't agree with them that the Non-Christian either read the WRONG translation or simply "can't see the truth because they are blinded by Satan"....
I read the New Testament in both English and Koine (New Testament) Greek, so just HOW am I failing to read the "correct" version?
And just because I feel that Jesus may very well be A God, just not MY God because I follow my Ancestral Gods does not mean that I have been "blinded" to both the positive AND the negative aspects of their book.... Even if the Christians seem to ignore those self-same negative aspects....
2007-09-16 09:38:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anne Hatzakis 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I am a Christian and I try not assume anything as a sort. I find it fascinating to learn about other people's belief systems as much as I can and feel that other people might do the same. Thank you though, for taking the time to post this question. If I had to guess though, I know MANY Christians who have not even read the Bible for themselves, only taking the word of their pastors, priests, and Sunday school teachers. Maybe because they feel slightly insecure with their knowledge they assume other people do not know the "truth" as they perceive it.
Though my answer just proves that I assume huh? Just a bit of a guess but I would try not to take it personal when I Christian tells you that. After all, not all of us are bad. :-)
2007-09-16 11:39:30 · answer #3 · answered by Megs 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You have to read it with an open mind. Atheists don't, which is why they are atheists. Which is fine. Really. I'm not pretending Christians are open-minded either. Once you subscribe to a system of belief, usually one gets more than a bit prejudiced about anything else. My trick is to read it in the mindset that I can't disprove it (not that I can't prove it) and that no harm ever came from putting others before yourself, etc.
And I live under the opinion that choosing a faith is like choosing a career: the same thing cannot be right for everyone. Reading the Bible turned you off perhaps because you really don't belong as a Christian. No one, I mean no one, knows what is coming next. It is stupid for anyone to think they alone hold the path to salvation.
2007-09-16 09:40:24 · answer #4 · answered by bucket_of_roses 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
I think it's because, The Bible, is God's word. So since it has touched many Christians in such a big way, it would seem that it would touch anyone who has read it in the same way--and thus they wouldn't deny God or his teachings. But alas, this is not true.
In all reality, God has to touch the heart of a person in order for them to join the Kingdom. The person has to genuinely be seeking the truth, not full of hatred, animosity and uncertainty..although He is powerful enough to change that as well.
Also Satan, can have a grip on someone so strong that they can read the Bible a million times and never change their hearts. Like one of the above posters, I was Pagan for several years..studied Witchcraft and did not believe that the Bible was true although I read it and grew up in a Christian household. I rejected it, like most people. It wasn't until God touched my heart that I was able to see the truth.
My advice is, if anyone out there, really wants to find the "Truth" ask for it, pray for it, and you will receive it. God will show you, if you approach it with a clean heart.
2007-09-16 09:37:32 · answer #5 · answered by urbanologie 1 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Girl Wonder i am also amazed by this phenom..all the pagans and athiests i know have read the bible and studied many other world religions also before finding the path of peace that is correct for them, and to me thats what matters most. What enriches OUR lives in a positive way. And yes I have read and studied the bible more than once too...PAX
2007-09-16 09:44:09 · answer #6 · answered by Fae 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I agree, I too have read the bible more than once, done daily study sessions, weekly bible classes etc, didn't believe most of what it said. Ithen looked into many different religions before I found my true path and I have been happy with it for many years now, although it doe grow and change as I do :)
Great question!
2007-09-16 09:36:21 · answer #7 · answered by Diane 4 · 6⤊ 1⤋
They talk like this because they think everyone is like themselves. They are the ones who don't read about other religions/beliefs.
And like you said, they assume that whoever reads it, a holy wand will touch his head and turn him/her into a Christian. I've read the Bible many times, too and I'm still an adamant Muslim. Oh yes, it helped me in a way, it made my belief become stronger.
Have a nice day.
2007-09-16 09:36:21 · answer #8 · answered by Zifikos 5 · 6⤊ 2⤋
Like what kinds of questions....email me...lets talk.
I know that the bible says we will not understand unless the spirit lets us. If a person is not born again (meaning that our spirit has been regenerated by God's spirit) we wont understand the bible (word of God) and that it will be foolishness to those who do read it. It can be very confusing to those who are born again. We have lots of questions. But whats the bottom line????
Bottom line is this.....Jesus walked to the cross and laid on it, bleeding where they had stripped his back with a whip containing razor like glass on the end. He bled and was in pain. He opened his hands while they drove huge stakes into his hands, then his feet. Agonizing pain and suffering. They took the cross and pulled it to the point of the open hole...and when it was near, sunk it deep into the hole, jolting his body, tearing his flesh. And yet he said nothing.
He did pray....Father forgive them for they know not what they do. They did not murder him...........Jesus went willingly. An innocent man....with no sin....died for me. But thats not all, He rose for me too. God rose him from the dead and then into heaven...
Thats bottom line.......Jesus loved me before the beginning of the world. He agreed before the beginning of the world to die. If thats not love....I dont know what is.
2007-09-16 09:45:48 · answer #9 · answered by bandaidgirl 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Many, many have. Some Russian communists even memorized absurd amounts of it, not being Christian at all. However, the number of atheists who understand it in an a deep and meaningful l way I can count on one hand, almost all of whom are literary critics or scholars of one kind or another. One is my avatar.
2007-09-16 09:43:24 · answer #10 · answered by Aspurtaime Dog Sneeze 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋