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]

Mozz - I agree with you.
Apart from Nailits superficial analyses of the bible, I wonder has he actually learned anything interesting, and worthy of further investigation.
I am very interested in his studies, as he appears to have the energy and will to engage in long periods of study. Well done him.

[nailit]

Theland,
I will have to admit that you have been more gracious to me than I have been towards you. I admit that I may have been a bit 'abrasive' at times, but that was born out of exasperation at times.

//Apart from Nailits superficial analyses of the bible//
Because I disagree with you doesnt make my analysis of the Bible 'superficial'. I would appreciate you pointing out where I have been 'superficial' and perhaps we could go from there?

//he appears to have the energy and will to engage in long periods of study//
An hour a day is hardly exasperating? Which i do in the morning before work...hardly taxing,,,you can do it to! I have my breakfast, read for an hour and then go to work (at 8 oclock) Dont understand why its so difficult for a christian to read through the Bible in a few months when I can fit it into my spare time?

[nailit]

I spent a few mornings feeling brain dead, reading meaningless list after list of sacrifices and geaniologies etc but nevertheless persevering.
What about you?

[Theland]

I regularly toil and study for a while over a single passage, looking up lecturers and apologists to get various viewpoints.
For example, I like thee KJV for ite reputed accuracy, but the NIV for ease of reading.,
Differences in Genesis 6 are requiring explanation, but an apologist gave me a plausible meaning which makes a lot of sense.

[nailit]

Theland....
I really have to go to bed now BUT....
For the record, I mostly reject the Bible because
1) Its immoral.
2) Its bunkum.

Tempted to expand on 1&2 but Im knackered/tired.
Happy to oblige later ;-)

[Theland]

Nailit, don't forget we are children of our times, brought up in the post enlightenment world that contributes to our worldview which is predominantly naturalism, and so anything that challenges this is bound to be uncomfortable and at a disadvantage.
Look at the worldview being formed right now in our young people?
Most have a worldview dominated by Google, Twitter, what's app, Instagram, and a manic need to know the opinions of acquaintances a hundred times a day.
The still small voice of God is easily drowned out, and so it is easy to label it immoral and bunkum without careful consideration of all of the facts, and trying to do this in the face of criticism from militant atheism is even more difficult.
Anyway, I think you are more agnostic than atheist, and crack on with your study.
Just one thing though, reading cover to cover must have some benefits, but also investigating various themes in depth might also help, as it does me.
What bible version do you use?

[fiveleaves]

You have to take the Bible as a whole piece of work (66 books) and then the whole thing makes sense.
Admittedly many of the laws of Leviticus make little sense to us today, but many are concerned with basic health and hygiene for a people living in a hot climate.
The old Testament gives the background of the New Testament.
For example, the animal sacrifices point to the sacrifice of Jesus (the Lamb of God)
The 5 books of the Law reach their conclusion in the New Testament with Jesus being the fulfillment of the Law.
In summary, the Bible needs to be read at a Macro level rather than a Micro level