Why Would An Atheist Read The Bible?

[nailit]

Why would a creationist read The God Delusion?

Anyway, Ive set myself a goal (always lived my life by goal setting, it focus's the mind) to read the entire Bible...Genesis to Revelation...in 3 months!
Ive read the entire Bible before, but forgot much of it, and after a few conversations at work (with Evangelicals) Ive decided to read the lot again. After 14 days I am currently at the first few chapters of Deuteronomy. Have struggled (but persevered) through meaningless chapter after after chapter of animal sacrifices in Numbers to meaningless chapter after chapter of ridiculous laws in Leviticus, with endless repetitions of genealogies and the endless repetition of killing animals because it is a *Pleasing aroma before the Lord*

I can quiet understand why Bible believers have never read the Bible.
Its Boring.
Its sick
Its Immoral
Its irrelevant

But I'll read it!
Can Bible believers understand why I will?
(for the next couple of months at least)
;-)

[Theland]

Nailit - As I thought. You learned nothing. It went right over your head.
Carry on reading, but you are wasting your time.

[andy-hughes]

Khandro - // As to me being a "devout Christian", you have absolutely no idea about my religious outlook. //

Are you serious??

You talk about it on here just about every single day!!!

[andy-hughes]

Khandro - // I have been coming on these R&S threads for a long time & never have I attempted to proselytise to anyone as you seem to do about atheism. //

Now you are coming over as delusional.

The essence of atheism is the unwillingness to care about faith, its origins, its meanings, or any of the tedious trappings that vex Christians on a daily basis.

// I really couldn't care less what you believe (or don't) , though you seem to be highly concerned about what I do. //

Again, you cannot be serious - you should be caring about every 'lost soul' - it's in your remit as a Christian (devout or otherwise) and if you think I am in any way concerned about what you believe, then you are exhibiting the typical superiority complex of the devout Christian - again.

[andy-hughes]

Theland - // Nailit - As I thought. You learned nothing. It went right over your head.
Carry on reading, but you are wasting your time. //

There's that Christian sense of (unfounded) superiority rearing its head again - as I pointed out to Khandro just a moment ago.

Do you people learn it at Sunday School or what?

[nailit]

//Nailit - As I thought. You learned nothing. It went right over your head//
What did you think that I would (should?) learn from the first few verses of Genesis?
That the ancient Hebrews had a creation myth, like much of the ancient world did?
//Carry on reading, but you are wasting your time//
On the contrary, now that I am past most of the boring stuff (numerous geneologies, chapter after chapter of how to build a tabernacle, endless guidance on how to slaughter animals to appease an ancient bloodthirsty deity), Im now on to the interesting stuff in Joshua. The wars and killings. The 'War And Peace' of the Bible. (Well, not much peace to be fair, but still a good yarn).
Im sure that I will learn something of Gods love amongst all the genocide and bloodshed that he ordered ;-)

[nailit]

//There's that Christian sense of (unfounded) superiority rearing its head again//
They just cant see it Andy. They KNOW the truth and us mere deluded mortals cant :-)

[andy-hughes]

Nailit - // Im sure that I will learn something of Gods love amongst all the genocide and bloodshed that he ordered ;-) //

Know your place!!!

The Bible is not for the likes of you and I!!!

[nailit]

//The Bible is not for the likes of you and I!!!//
Evidently...
No wonder the church made it a criminal offence for commoners to read the Bible in the middle ages!

[Mamyalynne]

Glad you're enjoying re reading.

[nailit]

//Glad you're enjoying re reading//
Mamy, despite how I might critisize aspects of the Bible, I *AM* actually enjoying the experience. Bringing back a lot of what I had forgotten etc. and also bringing back memories of reading passages as a teenage believer and been totally confused by them. :-)

[JimF]

TL:DR, but parts of the Bible are truly beautiful, such as Psalms and The Song of Songs. And Revelation is a superb yarn!

[nailit]

//And Revelation is a superb yarn!//
Obviously written by a man on 'shrooms ;-)

[JimF]

And it forms the basis of Supper's Ready by Genesis.

[nailit]

All joking apart,
Who the hell will dare put his hand up into believing in snakes that once had legs and a voice box?
Or that donkeys can talk? Not only talking donkeys but that people once held conversations with them like its the most normal thing in the world to talk to your donkey? Seriously!
Or who the hell has a coherent conversation with a burning bush?
Need I go on?

What Have I learnt so far?
Ive learnt that I was a nob as a teenager to have ever believed this crud.

[237SJ]

That's because you were a 'born again' Born agains are always fanatical which is why you are now questioning yourself.

[Mamyalynne]

Need I go on?

Not really.

We are all aware of what you think about the snake, you have told us so often.

[nailit]

//which is why you are now questioning yourself//
Thats a bit non sensical. How am I questioning myself? Im asking others to justify it.

//We are all aware of what you think about the snake, you have told us so often//
So I have. But what about the talking donkey? :-)

[Mamyalynne]

Only fair he/she gets a mention I suppose.

[237SJ]

Why do you need other people to justify it? Who cares what other people think?

[nailit]

What do you think about talking snakes, donkeys and burning bushes Mamy?
Probably nothing. But your not an evangelical like others on here so my questions are not addressed to you.