Question for atheists

SpunkyChicken · Visitor Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 6 Local time: 11:06 PM

Would you recommend reading the bible? I want to know if it's worth it, and whether it somehow makes sense or becomes more interesting somewhere in the middle. How can someone who doesn't believe in god interpret it so it becomes a good and moral guide?

josephpalazzo · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:05 pm Post subject:

I would not waste my time reading the bible, no more than I would read the qur'an...

Moloth · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: Question for atheists

RyanDzundza · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject: Re: Question for atheists

Unbeliever · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:16 pm Post subject:

The Bible: it's not for everybody, though it sure tries to be!

Well, it depends on motivation, I guess. I read the Bible the first time because my pastor and others told me to, since I'd find the answers to my questions there. I didn't actually, but after I'd read it cover to cover, I no longer held any faith in it. Since then I've read it through twice more, and studied it a good bit, as well. My motivation was to use it as ammunition to argue against Bible literalists and other Christians who take it very seriously. It can be read as literature, I suppose, but much of it's not very good in that respect.

It does get good, IMO, when it comes to the book of Ecclesiastes. I don't know how much it did to influence my worldview, but I do believe that all is vanity, ultimately futile and meaningless. So we shouldn't stress so much over our triumphs and failures, but instead just enjoy them while we can.
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joshuas3521 · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject:

I would definitely recommend it. Biblical references are everywhere in our culture to the point that you miss entire aspects of literature by missing it.
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"What I'm saying is, if God wanted to send us a message, and ancient writings were the only way he could think of doing it, he could have done a better job." --Carl Sagan

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spartan123209 · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject:

"The Bible is the best proof against Christianity out there."

Someone here posted that quote.

I believe to really understand why someone believes in god(s), you need to understand what their religion is about.

FlatEarth1024 · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 4:42 pm Post subject: Re: Question for atheists

Lilith · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:00 pm Post subject:

I've read it as a kid in my after school bible study, and have yet to read it again as an atheist,
though I've spoken for hours with others on many on the contradictions. I think it is reading it as a whole would be worth it. Think of it as a mythology read so that it's not so frustrating to know people believe that crap.
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With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. - Steven Weinberg

Wander · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:15 pm Post subject:

To read it and try to harvest morals from it would be a grand waste of time. Instead, skim over it to get a feel for what you're arguing against - actually reading and knowing what's in the Bible is the most effective way to argue against it.
_________________
Regarding creationists: Aren't these the same people who gave us alchemy and astrology, and who told us the earth, besides being flat, was at the center of the universe? Why don't we just kill these fucking people? ~George Carlin

transientangent · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:25 pm Post subject: Re: Question for atheists

coloringzebras · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:43 pm Post subject:

"'The Good Book'--one of the most remarkable euphemisms ever coined."
-Ashley Montagu

Spideynw · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: Question for atheists

chookrooter · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject:

I read the Bible because I had no choice,being a catholic child at the time.

Not something I would recommend for pleasure or to gain knowledge or understanding.

You may get the impression that may believers are even worse than you thought before reading their book. Have glance at Leviticus;that also gives the lie to the literalists.

Having said that ,I must admit I rather like "the Song Of Solomon"; it's quite erotic.

I read The Quran whilst I was at University as background for a paper I was doing. All I'll say is that it's a lot shorter than the bible,and that I was very grateful at the time..

CET · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:04 pm Post subject: Re: Question for atheists

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