Most atheists say they like to research other religions. (That I have spoken to, I mean.) So I'm just curious how many of you have read it.
2007-11-09 08:37:18 · 65 answers · asked by Anthem Demon R&S addict 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I have. I didn't stop there. I also talked to many reverends, pastors, and priests.
2007-11-09 08:39:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I haven't read the Quran, the Confucian Analects, The Dhammapada, the Bhagavad Gita, the Gleanings, etc... and I'm probably less educated for not doing so. I have read the bible in it's entirety but I'll be honest with you I probably wouldn't have if I didn't attend bible college and if it wasn't required. (she's right, a lot of us began as christians).
But I think it's BECAUSE I'm an atheist that I don't care as much about individual religion's written doctrine as much as I do about the people who practice the religion themselves and the way they practice it. (which is probably why pixietur says it'd be boring). #1 because often the texts are often not a good reflection of what is practiced and #2 because the texts are not real and the gods are not real. But the people, their beliefs, their ceremonies, their symbols, their traditions and their location... those things are all real and important.
For example... I'd lose brownie points big time if I invited a friend to go grab a hamburger in India... but in the US (nine times out of ten even if my friend was Indian) that would be a very reasonable social activity. See? That's why it matters more how & where it's practied then how & where it's written.
2007-11-09 09:15:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
About 10 times
2007-11-09 08:50:11 · answer #3 · answered by Zay Bones 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Agnostic, not atheist, and I've read the (Protestant) Bible from cover to cover more than once. (I picked up a copy of the so-called Apocrypha, but haven't got around to reading it yet.)
That's more times than the average Christian I've grown up around. My religious aunt is in her late 50's and she just decided that she was going to read the whole Bible. I never cease to be amazed at how many Christians have never read the whole Bible. Not even the whole New Testament! Not even the whole of the Four Gospels!!!
If you really thought you had a revelation from God in one book, why wouldn't you read it? The Bible's long, but not that long. You can easily read the whole within the span of a year or a couple months. You could read a book every week (the shorter books in less than a week.)
If there is anything I've learned, it is that your average Christian doesn't have a clue about the Bible.
2007-11-09 08:39:40 · answer #4 · answered by Underground Man 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
In in basic terms about all situations the place some one asks me to study something with an open innovations they many times recommend - in basic terms study and settle for do not think of - I even have study the bible - with an clever innovations - that's why i'm for all intents and purposes an atheist. Luke "wrote" appropriate to the virgin delivery, yet once you have been to study any bible that grew to become into written earlier 1850, the King James interior the British museum might artwork in case you had it translated appropriate, you will possibly come across that there grew to become into by no potential any point out of a "virgin" delivery. each and all of the texts, get a Rabbi to translate the Hebrew texts in case you decide on, communicate in basic terms of a youthful lady not a youthful virgin. it quite is one among 1000's of discrepancies of why i'm an atheist.
2016-10-02 00:05:37 · answer #5 · answered by abele 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have not read the entire thing.
I'm not sure what that would accomplish. Most of it is pretty boring.
If that means that I have no reason to reject Christianity, than I hope all Christians have read the entire Koran so they have a good reason to reject that. And the Bagavad Gita and the Zoroastrian Avesta the Diamond Sutra, and all the other ones listed here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_texts
2007-11-09 08:48:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not an Atheist but I'd wager 5:1 that more Atheists have read the Bible in its entirety than, say, your average Catholic.
This is not bashing. Merely stating the obvious from personal observations.
Peace be with you.
2007-11-09 08:44:41 · answer #7 · answered by Arf Bee 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Earlier this year I set out to read the entire thing. Except for two huge gaps in the Old Testament I've read the whole thing.
I know plenty of atheists who are near-experts when it comes to the Bible.
2007-11-09 08:48:03 · answer #8 · answered by Defunct 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Moiraes Fate and all those who said they were once Christians,,,I'll bet you were never a repented, baptized, washed in the blood, Christan...Once you receive the Holy Spirit you are sealed until the day of redemption..I doubt any of you ever accepted Jesus as your Savior..
Atheists who think they were once Christians,,,don't even know what it takes to be saved. They never kneeled at the foot of cross..they never walked through the blood of Calvary....so don't call yourself an ex-Christian...it is just not true,,sitting in a church pew,,didn't make you a Christian ,,going to church where your Mama went, doesn't make you a Christian...being raised Christian,,what the heck is that? You can't be raised a Christian...you have to accept Jesus as your Savior....you may have been raised with Christian principals if you Daddy was a Preacher,,,but that didn't make you a Christain....
2007-11-09 08:57:27 · answer #9 · answered by dreamdress2 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why? They do not believe in a god - any god - not just yours. Why would they read about it then?
Why does it worry Christians so? What about the other religions that worship other gods? Are they good?
The real reason is that your faith is so weak that you feel threatened by the fact that others do not believe as you do!!!!!
Come to terms with the fact that atheists and other religions far outnumber Christians!!!
Why should the majority think or even consider what a minority believes?
2007-11-09 08:43:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have read it through completely six times, and attended a college level satellite lecture series at my church. All this helped me to understand religion and remove it from my life. I compared the religion I was raised in (Christianity) to other religious teachings and learned that they are all similar in that they are meant to make a few people feel exceptional, while excluding the masses. Each god is simply a psychological parental figure.
2007-11-09 08:42:41 · answer #11 · answered by 2bzy 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋