Atheists, why do you keep saying that the bible is a fairy tale?

Answer 1

If you look up the word fable in the dictionary the primary definition involves talking animals. Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary gives "fable, n. 1. a fictitious narrative intended to teach some moral truth or precept, in which animals and sometimes inanimate objects are represented as speakers and actors." The other dictionaries agree.

Not all stories with talking animals are fables (only moral tales), and not all fables contain talking animals (so even without them, the Bible could still be a fable); but there is an assumption in the dictionary definitions that conforms to common knowledge: animals do not speak human language. If there is any evidence that the Bible is a fable, or contains fables, then the presence of talking animals would certainly be a part of such evidence.

From Genesis 3, which relates the most crucial moral tale of the entire Bible, the story of the fall of the human race: "Now the serpent was more subtil [NRSV: `crafty'] than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden" (Gen. 3:1)?

This story of the temptation of Eve, right at the beginning of Scripture, is the cornerstone of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic theology. Without it, there is no need for salvation, Moses, Jesus, or Mohammed. It is clearly a "moral tale" . If you open the Bible you read about a donkey that didn't know when to stop talking: "And Balaam said unto the donkey Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the donkey said unto Balaam, Am not I thine donkey, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee" (Num. 22: 29-30)?

This story may not be as morally crucial as the Garden of Eden, but that makes it no more believable.

The Bible describes more talking animals: "...four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within; and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty" (Rev.4:6-8).

Most Christians think Satan is a spiritual creature, but the Bible vividly describes him as a talking animal: "Behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth.... And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.... And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name" (Rev. 12:3,4,9; 13:6).

Answer 2

You know, when I opened this question I assumed that you would have SOME kind of argument for your position under the headline question. Your question would have been more honest if you would have just put down "It's not! It's not! It's not!"
That would have said what you mean better.

Anyway, to answer your "question"
It is a fairy tale, or something quite close. It's self-contradictory, it says things that simply are not true. It's very easy to see that it was written and changed by mere people with their own agendas.

If this really were the word of a deity, he would have done a much better job of it.

Answer 3

I`m Catholic and I don`t believe in Adam and Eve.
Sigund Frued evolution of us being descendants of apes is true.
Think about it?
Women are the only ones that give birth, so Adam giving birth to Eve is bull.
Babies are created by men and women not god taking Adam rib out to make a woman.
Woman is called woman because she`s a human being with a womb.
Also, no way are all descendants of Adam and Eve, because we would all look like demented cut outs of them.
Eve's sin was eating an apple? So why do Christians still eat apples?
Eve and Adam committed sin by knowing knowledge so why do Christians go to school and send their kids to school?
Adam and Eve were naked? So why was it sin for them to know that and to cover up?
Adam and Eve never existed!
If they did, then they aren't the reason we humans revolved!

Answer 4

I've never said it was a fairy tale, but I do believe that it's mythology.

Answer 5

Because there is no indisputable proof of any kind that proves that the bible is real. Believers pick and choice parts of the bible to justify that it is real.
And ignore parts that show it is not.

Answer 6

Well, that's a good way to ridicule Christianity without having to back up your arguments with facts. Why spend hours studying what the Bible says when you can just make fun of it?

Answer 7

not really a fairy tale, just a tale

Answer 8

That's preposterous, I've NEVER said that. I have said it's a big lie and a myth, never a fairy tale.

Answer 9

Im with the Great Gazoo, any book with talking Donkeys , Snakes, and Bushes seems pretty unrealistic to me too.

Answer 10

I don't know. It must've been when I read the story about the dragons and angels and four corners of the earth (where are the corners on a sphere anyway?)