an honest question for atheists...?

Question

have you ever read the bible before... like more than a sentence?

and i'm not saying this in a snotty way.. i really want to know if you have read like a couple chapter or anything.

Answer 1

In the U.S., at least, most of us are former Christians. I studied at a Christian school for 9 years, and even spoke from the pulpit numerous times.

Answer 2

Yes, I've read it. I went to a Church of England school for many years and took exams in 'Divinity' (Religious Studies).

About 6 months ago I decided to re-read the gospels to find for myself the 'true' message of Christ. I found some propaganda and less in the way of moral teaching than I'd expected.

I have also read books on other religions (I can see about 25 just from where I'm sitting at my computer). So I would say I am as well versed in religious studies as many.

Father K once suggested I try a course on apologetics, but I decided, for now, I could do without that.

So (reading between the lines of your question) I can honestly say my position on the existence of God has only been arrived at after considerable study (including the Bible) and consideration.

It has not resulted in my 'believing' however. Quite the opposite in fact. And I imagine many other 'atheists' here will tell you similar stories.

Hope that helps.
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Answer 3

I was brought up an atheist, yet I read the bible a hell of a lot. My mother used to read it to me as a small child, along with books on Greek myths and other ancient legends. She impressed on me the importance that the bible was no different from those other legends, even though there would always be people who would try to tell me differently. She also said it would help me make up my own mind about religion when I was old enough to make my own choice.

Yes I have read the bible, all the way through several times. And I can name all the books in order - OT and NT. We learnt a rather cool song at Primary School which I can still remember (lol). It's rather fun though, I've often found I can completely flummox christians who have never read the bible by quoting sections they have never heard of!

Answer 4

I am an atheist.

I was baptised catholic. I had my "first holy communion" done, then my "solemnal holy communion".

I read many chapters of the bible (but also of other religious books).

And guess what? I used to be pipe-organ player in a catholic church in France for several years.

I was an atheistic pipe-organ player but nobody knew and noticed.

I love pipe-organ music and lots of it is impregnated of religion or spirituality.

For instance, there are pieces written by a french catholic composer (Olivier Messiaen) that I love:

"God amongst us"
"Apparition of the Eternal Church"

You know: I can be an atheist and respect those who believe in "God" (and in Gods, Goddesses and any kind of deities).

I don't believe in "god(s)" , after spending time to feel what this concept means really from books and from people who believe in "god(s)".

I am an atheistic pipe-organ player who used to play in a catholic church for years.

And yes, I did read long parts of the bible - and I even got my own for a while.

I mean that atheists aren't necessarily anti-believers.

And I am not an atheist against any religion. I just don't believe in any kind of deities, that's all. I tried to believe in them: I cannot.

By the way, in France, the music notes are spelled according to latin words from a catholic hymnus to Saint John the Baptiste:

do/ut > ré > mi > fa > sol > la > si > do

= c d e f g a b c.

Answer 5

I have spent awhile in the Bible...and I always tried to look past the inconsistencies, BUT now that I am getting older, I am starting to wonder WHY doens't GOD who is so powerful stop some of this deceit, and war and famine and greed and power and jealousy....well, when I read the Bible is when I get my answer it is all OF GOD>...all of IT, he says: NOT a SPARROW shall fall BUT FROM MY HAND! SO when children die, even murdered it is OF GOD.....I am not sure I want any part of this....really, I am trying to be truthful....WAR is in the Bible also....and all the things that make the world are right there in a book that is suppose to give me strength and salvation....

Answer 6

I'm a Satanist and have read the bible and many other religious scriptures. I prefer the older texts hence Pagan Mythology. The bible is the younger version of the Jewish myth. I like the Darker (more hidden) texts though. To bad the Christains burnt all our scriptures. Screw them anyway.

Answer 7

I'll throw a "non-believer" response in here - Yes, I've read the Bible - start to finish just this last summer. By the time I got to Revelations, I was convinced once more that it is.... just as much fantasy as any other myths - Greek, Egyptian, Mayan, any of them. Revelation especially seems like a twisted LSD trip.

Answer 8

yes. i actually read the whole thing several times, and i read certain books a lot more often. if my dog hadn't torn it shreds i would still break it out now and then. just because i don't believe it's the word of any god doesn't mean i don't like some of the prose. also, it's good to have some bible knowledge if you're going to debate religion with people.

Answer 9

the actual reading of the Bible on my own, without a priest or pastor cherry picking verses for me was the impetus for my departure from Christianity. read with an open objective mind no human being with any self honesty or self respect would worship the sadistic Bible god once they recognized the true nature of that cruel and infantile desert deity.

Answer 10

I've carefully kept tract of which books in the Bible I've read. Except for a couple of huge gaps in the OT, I've read it all. One day I hope the read the book "Who Wrote the Bible" by Richard Friedman.

Answer 11

In the U.S., most people are raised Christian (myself included). Some of us became atheists because we were so deeply embedded in religion we knew we must get out.

Had I spent less time in church and less time reading the Bible, I probably wouldn't be atheist today, I'd just be a passive, unenthusiastic Christian.

But instead I feel morally obligated to expose the dark side of Christianity--because I've witnessed it not just as a church goer, but as a serious student of the Bible and a missionary.