How many people who claim atheism study the Bible?

Question

I've noticed several who can effectively quote from scripture when debating with Christians. Fascinating, and encouraging that you at least are willing to explore where the other side is coming from. If you are an Atheist who studies the Bible, do you have a favorite verse?

Answer 1

Lots of people are atheists BECAUSE they've studied the Bible.

I personally would NEVER worship the sadistic, immoral, killer God that it describes. I don't consider drowning, plaguing, and slaughtering millions (more than Hitler); hardening hearts; conspiring to have one's own kid brutally beaten and killed; and repeatedly commanding one's followers to kidnap, rape, torture, and kill others; to be 'love' or moral. Those who DO are free to slobber all over him.

Answer 2

I've read it cover to cover 4 times, Bible study 3 times a week, was raised in a Christian home, but never believed in it. Actually the more I studied, the less I believed. A lot of atheist come from a similar background.

Favorite verse, also found in most religions and a good way to live.

"You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:18

Answer 3

Well I've read the bible maybe six or seven times cover to cover, in an attempt to see/understand where certain family members were coming from... so yes I've read it.

I try not to quote it when speaking to Christians as it has on occasion resulted in very hostile reactions. I remember one time things went particularly wrong, when I made an appeal for peace in the name of their Lord because family members who are very religious were fighting after my grandmothers funeral -- they immediately turned on me and said, "How dare I say such a thing because I was not a believer..."

I have since tried to avoid using any quotes or references to their beliefs because despite my best efforts I think that I simply do not and probably -cannot- understand the correct cultural vocabulary to use them correctly.

I have no favorite verse, and I find that I enjoy the poetry and the mental challenge of understanding the culture for it's own sake. That said; I also enjoy reading भगवद्गीता or ΠΥΘΑΓΟΡΑΣ, or the תורה, and תלמוד or if I think a want a challenge sometimes I even spend a month or two reading the حديثة or Sayyid Qutb’s فى ظلال القرا - (It's too much for me most years)...

Answer 4

Not all atheist's were born that way. Back in the stone age, at school, we were forced to do a session a week in religious studies (religious studies always equalled christian studies) I ended up being so disruptive an influence that I was sent to the library to amuse myself.

My favourite verse, I think it might have been from the bible:

"If there is no silicon heaven, where do all the toasters go?"

Answer 5

Yes i have read the Bible a couple of times. I attended Bible study for a good while and i took 2 semesters of Christian/Muslim/Judaism study in a local Christian college.


My favorite scripture would probably be one of the most famous. John 3:16- I find it to be somewhat funny. God is so full of love that he sent his Son to die a slow horrible death as a sacrifice to himself. Talk about narcissistic.

Answer 6

From what I've seen, it's because a large number of Atheists are former Christians. Anyway, my favorite verse would probably be the one where Jesus yells at the Pharisees for their public displays of faith where they only show off for other people. I see a lot of Christians doing the exact same thing now and I wish more people would read that story.

Answer 7

I forget the exact chapter and verse, but I'm a big fan of how God sent a lying spirit to Ahab so that he'd start a war he couldn't win. That's a fun story.

Around Christmas, I like to remind people that Jeremiah 10:2-4 explicitly forbids taking pagan rituals as your own (the example it gives is taking a tree and decorating it with silver and gold).

Oh, and I like how Mark 16:17-18 tells us we can distinguish Christians from non-Christians just by giving them poison to drink. Strangely, though, I don't know any Christians who trust Jesus enough to try it out...

Answer 8

I'm an ex-Christian: yes, I know the bible well, but that's a good part of what convinced me of the need to become an atheist.

My favourite verses are largely to be found in Ecclesiastes.

There's always the NeoCon's verse:
"A wise man's heart inclines him toward the right, but a fool's heart toward the left." (Ecc10:2)

Answer 9

No, of direction no longer. Atheists don't think that basically the Christian god would not exist, they have not got faith ANY God exists, so there isn't any desire, as you're saying, to benefit each faith that has ever existed. in spite of the certainty that, the extra you examine of something, the extra knowledgeable and rounded you develop into extra often than not, and in case you examine the King James Bible you would be examining lots of the main eye-catching English prose EVER; in spite of your ideals.

Answer 10

the most effective way to become an atheist is to study the bible. i was already on the way out, but learning greek was the final nail in the coffin.

i like ecclesiastes 1:18 : "Because in wisdom there is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow."

that was precisely my experience of christianity, and christians.