Top | Newest First | Oldest First
HannibalAteMeOut · 22-25, F
Some needed to prove to themselves first why they don't believe. Most are born within a religion (christianity in this case). Many atheists went to religious school, attended church as children etc. And they were paying attention. Sometimes curiosity made them question things that people who remained of faith did not need answers to. Atheists tend to read the Bible from many points of view. First as believers, then to answer questions, then to dispute the beliefs, then as literature and dissect it. Whereas Christians who go by the book are often seen as dogmatic, part of a cult or heretics (most Christians who belong in the big denominations don't read the whole Bible because they learn what they need to at their church). It's complicated dynamics. One example I can give you is my grandmother and myself. She's illiterate so can't really read the Bible, but she's a Christian. I went to school and had religious lessons since I was a kid, I can read the Bible and ended up being an atheist. So one could say that I know more about the Bible than my grandmother.
th3r0n · 41-45, M
They do actually seem to know more than the average "Christian" that has been to church and not read the Bible, because they read enough to try to verify that it's not true
They know a lot less than one who has read the Bible and believed it though, and a lot less than one who read it all and believed it
They know a lot less than one who has read the Bible and believed it though, and a lot less than one who read it all and believed it
View 16 more replies »
Diotrephes · 70-79, M
@th3r0n Can you set a broken chicken leg?
According to the biblical fairytale, the Jesus character thought that the stars would fall to the Earth. He wasn't very smart, was he?
According to the biblical fairytale, the Jesus character thought that the stars would fall to the Earth. He wasn't very smart, was he?
Diotrephes · 70-79, M
@th3r0n [quote]You're going to be very shocked very soon[/quote]
What do you think is going to happen?
What do you think is going to happen?
Carazaa · F
@Budwick I will if you promise to read Matthew 25 We will not inherit heaven unless we care for the poor. That is imperative and a sign that we belong to Jesus.
[c=BF0000]For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”[/c]
[c=BF0000]For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”[/c]
GeistInTheMachine · 31-35, M
Some atheists are anti-theists because of spiritual abuse and religious overreach. It's a vicious cycle.
Shitty Christians do more harm to the name of God than non-believers do.
That being said, even when I was an atheist I felt anti-theism, while I sympathized with some of its frustrations, went too far.
Frankly there is a lot of nuance lost.
Due to history and US influence a lot of people have a twisted image of Christianity as just as this monolothic reactionary conservative right wing thing and that isn't solely the case.
Look at Martin Luther King and Christian Socialists, and abolitionists, for example.
Agree with them or not, it's a naunced matter and people always do themselves and others a diservice when they let reductionists control the narrarive.
Theocratic types bring blowback and resentment to the word of God. Jesus said His yoke was light.
Christians should lead by example. Not by political force.
Shitty Christians do more harm to the name of God than non-believers do.
That being said, even when I was an atheist I felt anti-theism, while I sympathized with some of its frustrations, went too far.
Frankly there is a lot of nuance lost.
Due to history and US influence a lot of people have a twisted image of Christianity as just as this monolothic reactionary conservative right wing thing and that isn't solely the case.
Look at Martin Luther King and Christian Socialists, and abolitionists, for example.
Agree with them or not, it's a naunced matter and people always do themselves and others a diservice when they let reductionists control the narrarive.
Theocratic types bring blowback and resentment to the word of God. Jesus said His yoke was light.
Christians should lead by example. Not by political force.
Carazaa · F
They might "seem" to know The Bible, But they don't study the Bible like serious Christians who are in Bible studies weekly. I think most born again christians love to read the Bible more than any other book, I do! We have a personal relationship with God.
Atheists often take a passage, or some verses, and apply it to their own knowledge instead of understanding it from God's view, from a heavenly view. A person has to be saved by The Holy Spirit to understand it. Satan knows what is coming, he knows the Bible, but he is rebelling against God and using men's ignorance and pride to deceive them. Many are deceived. I am here to warn people to not be ignorant of Satan's schemes. And to trust in Jesus, God in the flesh, who took the worlds sins on his own shoulders, and frees us from all bondage and slavery to sin. He is coming back in our generation, the signs are all here, so don't be deceived into believing a lie! 🙏
Atheists often take a passage, or some verses, and apply it to their own knowledge instead of understanding it from God's view, from a heavenly view. A person has to be saved by The Holy Spirit to understand it. Satan knows what is coming, he knows the Bible, but he is rebelling against God and using men's ignorance and pride to deceive them. Many are deceived. I am here to warn people to not be ignorant of Satan's schemes. And to trust in Jesus, God in the flesh, who took the worlds sins on his own shoulders, and frees us from all bondage and slavery to sin. He is coming back in our generation, the signs are all here, so don't be deceived into believing a lie! 🙏
Carazaa · F
@Diotrephes You are not correct! I don't care to debate this with you since you have poor knowledge of the Bible. It's like discussing with someone who insist the earth is flat! Have a nice day!
Carazaa · F
@Diotrephes You'll see Jesus sooner than that guaranteed! 🙂
[quote]I pity them for reading a book that they don't believe in before they read it, and worse they don't believe in it after they read it...lol, it like dumb and dumber[/quote]
That sounds rather ignorant of you.
Why would you pity someone for reading the Bible when they don't believe it so that they can investigate for themselves what all the fuss is about?
And you say it's [i]worse[/i] to investigate for yourself and come away unconvinced? That's dumb and dumber? Why ? How?
How is making an honest attempt to expose oneself to the material and finding it lacking dumber than already swallowing the story hook, line and sinker because you've been taught to or because you're motivated to want it to be true?
I don't think you were being very thoughtful or fair with that description.
That sounds rather ignorant of you.
Why would you pity someone for reading the Bible when they don't believe it so that they can investigate for themselves what all the fuss is about?
And you say it's [i]worse[/i] to investigate for yourself and come away unconvinced? That's dumb and dumber? Why ? How?
How is making an honest attempt to expose oneself to the material and finding it lacking dumber than already swallowing the story hook, line and sinker because you've been taught to or because you're motivated to want it to be true?
I don't think you were being very thoughtful or fair with that description.
espoir · 36-40, F
@Pikachu Thank you for allowing me to improve or amend my opinion. I have decided to leave my opinion as it is. I know you don't like to fight my opinion but rather to discuss why my opinion in ignorant. ok , when you show me that my opinion is ignorant then I'll consider changing my opinion. But you can't do that if you are sincere about your Atheism . So I remain ignorant in your opinion and you will always remain dumb and dumber in my opinion . So accept my opinion for what it is and I will remain ignorant in your opinion. It is my right to have an opinion about Atheists(which will never change) . So stop trying to change my opinion. Don't start getting me into the jokes and insults (of which you are guilty of) made by Atheists by reading and misunderstanding the Bible
@espoir
[quote], when you show me that my opinion is ignorant then I'll consider changing my opinion.[/quote]
I've already done that.
You said [i]"It is my opinion that Atheists read the bible in order to find flaws to criticise true believers".[/i]
I shared with you my own story which does not fall into that category so you already have at least one example of an atheist experience which contradicts your preconceived opinion.
So you can either realize that your position requires a more nuanced approach or you can pretend you never received this new information and continue to repeat what you now know to be at best a flawed and incomplete characterization.
Everyone has an opinion, dear. But thoughtful people are willing to change it in the face of new information.
[quote]It is my right to have an opinion about Atheists(which will never change) [/quote]
Then you've chosen to close your mind and there's nothing anyone can do for you.
[b][i]Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you[/i][/b]
[b]-Matthew 7:1-2[/b]
I understand that your ego is engaged right now and that you have skin in the game, as it were but i'm hoping you'll still take the time to reflect on what i've shared with you.
Good luck and have a pleasant evening 🙂👋
[quote], when you show me that my opinion is ignorant then I'll consider changing my opinion.[/quote]
I've already done that.
You said [i]"It is my opinion that Atheists read the bible in order to find flaws to criticise true believers".[/i]
I shared with you my own story which does not fall into that category so you already have at least one example of an atheist experience which contradicts your preconceived opinion.
So you can either realize that your position requires a more nuanced approach or you can pretend you never received this new information and continue to repeat what you now know to be at best a flawed and incomplete characterization.
Everyone has an opinion, dear. But thoughtful people are willing to change it in the face of new information.
[quote]It is my right to have an opinion about Atheists(which will never change) [/quote]
Then you've chosen to close your mind and there's nothing anyone can do for you.
[b][i]Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you[/i][/b]
[b]-Matthew 7:1-2[/b]
I understand that your ego is engaged right now and that you have skin in the game, as it were but i'm hoping you'll still take the time to reflect on what i've shared with you.
Good luck and have a pleasant evening 🙂👋
deadgerbil · 22-25
Diotrephes · 70-79, M
@deadgerbil [quote]It's because the devil indwelled them and gave them knowledge[/quote]
Remember, according to the biblical fairytale, when Eve and Adam ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they became just as smart as God about those things. So, maybe God and the Devil are the same entity.
Remember, according to the biblical fairytale, when Eve and Adam ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they became just as smart as God about those things. So, maybe God and the Devil are the same entity.
Northwest · M
It doesn't look like you thought this question through.
When you don't know everything about your faith, and yet claim it's the right one, it means you're winging it.
Some people become atheists, after they study various religious disciplines, and figure out they're full of gaping holes. Nothing really to prove, but plenty to show.
When you don't know everything about your faith, and yet claim it's the right one, it means you're winging it.
Some people become atheists, after they study various religious disciplines, and figure out they're full of gaping holes. Nothing really to prove, but plenty to show.
fortycreek · M
Diotrephes · 70-79, M
@espoir Click on these links =
https://thebricktestament.com/epistles/on_authority/01_rm13_01.html
https://thebricktestament.com/epistles/on_justice/01_rm09_14.html
https://thebricktestament.com/epistles/on_the_jews/01_rm11_01p06.html
https://thebricktestament.com/epistles/on_authority/01_rm13_01.html
https://thebricktestament.com/epistles/on_justice/01_rm09_14.html
https://thebricktestament.com/epistles/on_the_jews/01_rm11_01p06.html
espoir · 36-40, F
@Diotrephes twa, i have seen these links and am I missing the point? What do they really mean?
Diotrephes · 70-79, M
@espoir[quote] i have seen these links and am I missing the point? What do they really mean?[/quote]
Obey orders. God appointed the rulers so they are doing what he wants them to do. Disobedience means that you are rebelling against God and that will get you tossed into the lake of fire.
The conmen included those passages so that the herd would be submissive to the priests and to the kings. There are numerous biblical stories showing how effective the brainwashing is.
Obey orders. God appointed the rulers so they are doing what he wants them to do. Disobedience means that you are rebelling against God and that will get you tossed into the lake of fire.
The conmen included those passages so that the herd would be submissive to the priests and to the kings. There are numerous biblical stories showing how effective the brainwashing is.
1) Atheists who began as theists questioned what they were being taught by the church and read for themselves the book upon which the teaching is founded and in doing so discovered that certain associated beliefs were nonsensical, contradictory or absurd.
2) Atheists who were never theists either made an earnest attempt to expose themselves to the source material or went looking for justification for their dismissal.
In either case, the average Christian knows what they know of the Bible only what they've been told from the pulpit or Sunday school and that mainly from the New Testament while many atheists have actually taken the time to read the Bible cover to cover.
Gloomy · F
There are different reasons.
Some may have been raised christian and when they started to have doubts read the whole thing in order to understand themselves and the way they were raised better.
Then there are those affected by religious ignorance or by people trying to push religious laws, then it would only make sense to engage with them and build counter arguments on basis of the book they believe in.
Then there are people who are just interested in reading historic and religious documents.
....
Shouldn't the Bible bring people who doubt closer to faith after reading it? Why does the Bible mostly seem to encourage only people already born into christianity?
Some may have been raised christian and when they started to have doubts read the whole thing in order to understand themselves and the way they were raised better.
Then there are those affected by religious ignorance or by people trying to push religious laws, then it would only make sense to engage with them and build counter arguments on basis of the book they believe in.
Then there are people who are just interested in reading historic and religious documents.
....
Shouldn't the Bible bring people who doubt closer to faith after reading it? Why does the Bible mostly seem to encourage only people already born into christianity?
PiecingBabyFaceTogether · 26-30
Because they do they were once Christians. That argument is not valid. Muslims use the same argument and be like why aren't you talking about Christianity and Judaism. People talk about the things that they experienced personally. An ex Christian wouldn't know about Islam what they do about Christianity and vice versa.
espoir · 36-40, F
@PiecingBabyFaceTogether yep , I know
PiecingBabyFaceTogether · 26-30
@espoir Why did you ask then?
espoir · 36-40, F
@PiecingBabyFaceTogether oh, I didn't know the answer to my question. I thought you asks if I knew about the bible etc
Many atheists were raised as Christians and later rejected the faith and the stories.
Many atheists meet religious people who try to convert them. Reading their holy texts is one way to find out what it is that they are choosing or rejecting.
Understanding the Bible is a useful way to understand countless Western references, beliefs and cultural practices - which helps with living in the midst of believers.
Many atheists meet religious people who try to convert them. Reading their holy texts is one way to find out what it is that they are choosing or rejecting.
Understanding the Bible is a useful way to understand countless Western references, beliefs and cultural practices - which helps with living in the midst of believers.
BibleData · M
Militant atheists see the Bible as it's presented by traditional theology, which is really unfortunate. They use the Bible in a sarcastic rather than skeptical fashion. They have a very literal interpretation because it seems the most ridiculous to them. They often think that if they quote the Bible at Christians that will make atheists out of them and for some reason that is very important to them.
Atheists tend to be thinkers.
1. If one reads the Bible (O & NTs) one has a better understanding of the thinking and values of any culture which embraces one of the Semitic religions; that's a large part of the world.
2. If one is going to decide whether to believe something or not, it's best to read it and know what it is rather than let someone else interpret it for you.
3. Evangelists often want to try to convert atheists - so an atheist needs to be prepared.
4. The Bible is an interesting social commentary in its own right. It carries myths, legends and a few snatches of real history - all documenting aspects of social evolution in the Middle East, starting with stories that probably evolved among Aramaic tribal herders somewhere between 2,000-1,500 BCE.
It portrays many aspects of human nature, examples of almost every kind of behaviour.
1. If one reads the Bible (O & NTs) one has a better understanding of the thinking and values of any culture which embraces one of the Semitic religions; that's a large part of the world.
2. If one is going to decide whether to believe something or not, it's best to read it and know what it is rather than let someone else interpret it for you.
3. Evangelists often want to try to convert atheists - so an atheist needs to be prepared.
4. The Bible is an interesting social commentary in its own right. It carries myths, legends and a few snatches of real history - all documenting aspects of social evolution in the Middle East, starting with stories that probably evolved among Aramaic tribal herders somewhere between 2,000-1,500 BCE.
It portrays many aspects of human nature, examples of almost every kind of behaviour.
This comment is hidden.
Show Comment
Diotrephes · 70-79, M
@jshm2 Do you know what the 10th Commandment is?
Diotrephes · 70-79, M
@th3r0n Can you set a broken chicken leg?
According to the biblical fairytale, the Jesus character thought that the stars would fall to the Earth. He wasn't very smart, was he?
Matthew 24:29 (CEV) =
(Mark 13.24-27; Luke 21.25-28)
Right after those days of suffering, “The sun will become dark, and the moon will no longer shine. The stars will fall, and the powers in the sky will be shaken.”
According to the biblical fairytale, the Jesus character thought that the stars would fall to the Earth. He wasn't very smart, was he?
Matthew 24:29 (CEV) =
(Mark 13.24-27; Luke 21.25-28)
Right after those days of suffering, “The sun will become dark, and the moon will no longer shine. The stars will fall, and the powers in the sky will be shaken.”
Carazaa · F
@Diotrephes You'll see, they will!
Since it's a broken religion exactly who's version is being rejected? Also atheists look at it objectivly and thus don't succumb to bais by trying to force it to be true. Actual Christians haven't existed for several centuries now anyway. Just bastardized Christians.
espoir · 36-40, F
@canusernamebemyusername What religion is the broken one?
PatKirby · M
@espoir
Now PEW research is indicating Religious Knowledge, not specifically Bible knowledge so there is a difference here. But closely related. So to that I would speculate it basically comes down to knowledge and study of scripture; in other words actually reading the Bible. How many people do you think actually know these...
![]()
* https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/
Now PEW research is indicating Religious Knowledge, not specifically Bible knowledge so there is a difference here. But closely related. So to that I would speculate it basically comes down to knowledge and study of scripture; in other words actually reading the Bible. How many people do you think actually know these...
* https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/
Anyone who has to defend themselves against something or someone should educate themselves on the what they are up against.
UnderLockDown · M
They tend to read just enough to manipulate it. In my experience they try hard to misinterpret everything.
Diotrephes · 70-79, M
@UnderLockDown [quote]They tend to read just enough to manipulate it. In my experience they try hard to misinterpret everything.[/quote]
Can you explain the point of the Noah story?
Can you explain the point of the Noah story?
val70 · 51-55
Never found that to be true, and I've know plenty of both kinds who knew their bible
walabby · 61-69, M
Nope. They are seeing what the Bible has to prove.
eMortal · M
Opposition research.
bijouxbroussard · F
espoir · 36-40, F
@bijouxbroussard I pity them for reading a book that they don't believe in before they read it, and worse they don't believe in it after they read it...lol, it like dumb and dumber
bijouxbroussard · F
@espoir I’m not sure you understand. Most people are raised with some type of religious belief. Many believers haven’t fully studied the text of those beliefs. They just accept someone else’s interpretation. It makes sense for someone with doubts to attempt to understand the source. And when it comes to the Bible there are different interpretations. Probably why there are so many denominations, yet all define themselves as "Christians”, right ?
espoir · 36-40, F
@bijouxbroussard right.
Human1000 · M
I’m interested in when it was written and when theology was decided ( it’s a made-up religion) and also how Christian’s ignore it.