2007-10-04 06:13:55 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is not a very helpful generalization, even though it has a large degree of truth to it. Even when Christians think they know the Bible, few of them have ever actually opened a commentary or some other serious academic book that might help them understand it in something other than a superficial way.
My general impression is that the general populace on the whole is not particularly well informed. Stephen Prothero did a study recently that seemed to confirm this.
2007-10-04 06:18:41 · answer #1 · answered by jamesfrankmcgrath 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I've spent my entire life attending church and Christian schools (I'm a Pensacola Christian College grad), and my perspective on that question is that Christians don't know their Bibles very well because too many of them rely on preachers and teachers to spoon-feed them what they need to know. I also believe that this is much of the reason why the modern church has drifted so much from the example of Christ and has lost much of its effectiveness. The only way to become more like Christ is to absorb His example and His words, and you can't do this if you don't read the Bible.
Your question is a generalization, of course, as others have pointed here already; but I don't think it is necessarily unfair. There are Christians who know their Bible intimately, but my experience tells me that they are the exception, not the rule. And many of those I've known who do know their Bibles well still view scripture in light of whatever their pastor teaches. They're often very reluctant to study for themselves and examine their church's doctrinal stance.
2007-10-04 13:23:31 · answer #2 · answered by jeffersonian73 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Tell me: What is the 6th book of the Bible? Who wrote it? What are the beatitudes? How many chapters are in the book of Psalm? What do the 12 lamp stands represent? Don't look these things up (remember- you know the Bible) If you are an Atheist or non-believer, why are you reading the Bible? How would you know if others have limited Biblical knowledge?
2007-10-04 13:29:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
So where's YOUR data? It's not reasonable to try to answer an incorrect question like that. How many muslims, buddhists, or hindi have even cracked a Bible open? And the only reason Atheists bother with it is to find things to argue about. Some sport!
Meanwhile, EVERY Catholic hears at least a few lines of Scripture at EVERY MASS they attend, and Protestants pride themselves on weekly bible studies.
I think you're full of it.
2007-10-04 13:28:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
its not off the mark at all, I'm an atheist, and every church I went to only sugar-coated everything, the one thing that turned me away from it was when I compared and contrasted all the gospel accounts and read the unedited versions before the Nicene Creed, Ie: the apogrypha. The insufficiencies between the Matthew and Mark (the original gospel, even though it was written 40 years after the supposed resurrection of christ.) were so astounding I totally gave up on it, and after reading the apotheosis tales of sumerian, babylonian, hittite, and greek cultures, the similarities between jesus and figures like apollo and osiris only supported my claims, the jesus narrative was a remake of older tales. Now please , tell me fundamentalist christians, if you know this because you "apparently" read the bible so much, how come you still believe in Jesus?
Matthew 27:52-53 - An undead account of the fallen saints buried outside jerusalem walking the streets, depsite that this wasn't included in any of the other gospels. It's kinda funny how every one else forgot to include Undead Zombie Saints, especially Mark who was the first to write an account of the gospel.
2007-10-04 13:24:08 · answer #5 · answered by tribute_13 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Why do you place yourself in such high regard, as to think that 'all' Christians have the same level of knowledge about the TaNaKh, Holy Bible, and Dead Sea Scrolls; as well as their Jewish roots?
2007-10-04 13:27:24 · answer #6 · answered by whathappentothisnation 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Really, when did you speak to ALL THE PEOPLE and assess their biblical knowledge and compare it to ALL THE CHRISTIANS. Perhaps you are over generalizing just a little bit. Some know their bibles very well.
2007-10-04 13:19:29 · answer #7 · answered by Someone who cares 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Proverbs 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
2007-10-04 13:38:11 · answer #8 · answered by just a man 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Did you ask us all?
Or did you find one that does not and then assume that we ALL don't?
Muslims hate it when some assume ALL of them are terrorists because some have been led that way by radical Imams, so why do you do the exact same thing to us?
Peace be with you.
2007-10-04 13:21:20 · answer #9 · answered by C 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I am a Christian and I know my Bible thank you.
2007-10-04 13:20:18 · answer #10 · answered by elaine 30705 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋