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)
;-)

[nailit]

//No, sorry, no logical reason that I can see there nailit//
No surprise there then. If you want to believe in fantasy then no amount of logical reasoning will suffice.


//Are you like one of those who climbed Everest and when asked why said, "because its there"//
Possibly. And??

//Truly, what do you hope to gain? Remembering a few passages here and there?//
Err. Yes! Thats what I said wasnt it?
Why are you making more of it than what I have already stated?

[Llanfair]

Well, that's simple enough! You are hating it! Why would anybody do something they hate if they are not pressured into it? Would you not ask the very same question of anybody who was doing something they were hating?

[pixie374]

Education, llanfair? It would make more sense to ask, why should somebody "not" read something.

[nailit]

//Well, that's simple enough!//
Wish the rest of your incoherent post was.
//You are hating it!//
Eh? Hating what?
//Why would anybody do something they hate if they are not pressured into it?//
Can ANYONE tell me what Llanfair is on about? Im honestly lost here.
//Would you not ask the very same question of anybody who was doing something they were hating?//
Nope! Im at a loss to understanding this post??
Anyone help me out here?

[Llanfair]

Oh, so you are actually enjoying a book that you find boring, sick, immoral and irrelevant, then, are you nailit?

[nailit]

Llanfair, the majority of the Bible *IS* //sick, immoral and irrelevant//
AND?
Why shouldnt I read it and educate myself as to what it actually says?
Just why dont believers like unbelievers reading it?

[Llanfair]

I asked you whether you were enjoying it. You claim you are NOT hating it, so I am asking whether you are enjoying it.

[nailit]

//I asked you whether you were enjoying it. You claim you are NOT hating it, so I am asking whether you are enjoying it//
Hating it? Enjoying it?
Neither!
Simply reading it.
Whats the problem?

[nailit]

And please tell me Llanfair, who has pressurised me in to reading the Bible? Where the hell are you getting this from?

[Mozz71]

//Why Would An Atheist Read The Bible?//

A better question is "Why would an atheist constantly post about the Bible?"

He's boring.
He's sick.
He's immoral.
He's irrelevant.
-or-
He's desperate for attention,
He enjoys winding up believers.
He's a joke.

[Llanfair]

No problem whatsoever, nailit. I just can't imagine continuing to read a book that I was not enjoying unless I had to, on an educational course perhaps.

[nailit]

//A better question is "Why would an atheist constantly post about the Bible?"

He's boring.
He's sick.
He's immoral.
He's irrelevant.
-or-
He's desperate for attention,
He enjoys winding up believers.
He's a joke.//

*OR*
(This may have escaped you)
He has an interest in such matters.
Some of us do!

[pixie374]

Or... he is interested in why people might believe it/ frustrated by the lack of answers and logic/ starting a conversation or debate... I think religion is a fair discussion point on a site like this.
It's (genuinely) a shame, that some believers see questions as an "attack" or a trap. They really shouldn't be.

[pixie374]

Cross-posted, sorry x

[Mozz71]

As I've stated many times, I'm not a believer. I do respect other people's right to believe if they so choose to do so.

As a neutral bystander, I've seen Nailit post many threads of a similar nature, and they nearly always descend into name calling, dismissing one another's opinions and general disarray, from both sides of the divide.

"Why would an atheist read the bible" is by definition, only someone fitting that description would be able to answer. And there is one one person here fitting that description.

[nailit]

//No problem whatsoever, nailit. I just can't imagine continuing to read a book that I was not enjoying unless I had to, on an educational course perhaps//
Then consider it an educational course.
BTW though I find most of the Bible boring etc, I do find parts of it interesting. I find it interesting from a historical perspective and love the stories contained in it.
I dont understand why believers cant accept that that non-believers read the Bible to educate themselves?
When we do, somehow we take the Bible out of context or some other rubbish!

[pixie374]

I fit it, and answered that. Name-calling isn't necessary from any side, but questions should be ok x

[nailit]

//As a neutral bystander, I've seen Nailit post many threads of a similar nature, and they nearly always descend into name calling//

//Why would an atheist read the bible" is by definition, only someone fitting that description would be able to answer. And there is one one person here fitting that description//

You obviously havnt followed the thread than mozz?
The name calling hasnt come from me.

[Mozz71]

//I dont understand why believers cant accept that that non-believers read the Bible to educate themselves?//

Does anybody do that?

//When we do, somehow we take the Bible out of context or some other rubbish!//

Its not the fact you're reading it, it's the fact that you then start questioning believers about smallish details about it, and pillorying them if they don't answer to your expectations.

[pixie374]

What I am genuinely surprised with, is believers saying - what do you want to read the bible for?? You'll only use it against me...
I really would expect them to say "yes! Read it,nailit. And then you'll understand".
The thread is surprisingly enlightening.