I like to tell Christians to read the Bible

Reading the Bible is what made me decide to be an atheist. I always considered myself a Christian until then, even though I only believed in God sometimes (and not often at that).

I see tee lling them to read the Bible, as telling them to seek their own truth. If they read the Bible, and that's the truth they want; then fine. If they read the Bible, and are horrified, as I was; then that's a step to freedom of thought for the whole world.

I doubt that any have.

 

I think a lot depends on our mindset in reading the Bible. If we think it's the "inerrant" Word of God that must all fit together in a neat, coherent, internally consistent way,including textbook information on astronomy, geology, and history, we can end up trying to justify all kinds of nonsense and evil. If we think of it as the words of inpired humans trying to make sense of their reality, and an historical-metaphorical guide to meaning, and follow the underlying principles, it can work.

 

I agree about this with the New Testament only.

 

One of the reasons why I became one. I see it as a struggle between Man and God.

 

More like a struggle between Man and Man. The most vicious, murderous, dominant groups decided what went into the old testament.

 

And the New Testament, as well.

 

One of the reasons I became athiest is because some christians can be complete assholes about their preaching their religion.

"you're going to hell, blah blah blah"

 

There is too much hate in the Bible for me.

 

I love the new testament. I was raised christian and I've always read the bible, but a few years ago (the last time i ever picked up a bible, actually) I realized that Jesus' teachings were pretty much 100% in line with my own personal philosophy. He pretty much just walked around the desert and tried to make people see that the only thing that will save mankind is if we stop hating each other and instead love each other and give of ourselves freely. Jesus was a cool dude....the original hippie, is what i always say.

ironically, I figured out I wasn't a Christian at all after that reading. I guess I realized Jesus wasn't a God, but just a man with a good philosophy and the heart and courage and probably stubborness to try to spread his philosophy.

I think if Christians read the bible and focused on the message of the new testament instead of all the fire and brimstone, supernatural bullshit, they would be more Christ-like. A lot of Christians that I know focus on the wrong parts of the Bible.

 

Very much agreed.

 

My favorite part is where jesus says to slay everyone who doesn't belive in him.

 

I could never get past Cain, Able and Seth having babies with their Sisters

 

I've read it. It is not the best book I've read. It is difficult to understand and it is meaningless without experiential conjugation. Some parts of it are inaccessible from an ordinary consensual or waking consciousness, requiring deep personal introspection. I have found in it much information on the workings of the human energy system.

 

Genesis 38:8-10
And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

 

There's even dildos in the bible:



Ezekiel 16:17
Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them

 

I like the part where it tells believers to kill their children if they don't believe.

And the part where they tell you that women should marry their rapists, or be killed.

And Jesus supporting slavery is cute (and I actually like the New Testament for the most part =/)

 

i like best that damn near everything you hear born-agains ranting about comes from after the jesus bit

they should call themselves paulists

and i like all the above-referenced material as well, especially vanilla's dildo ref, which i'd missed [good eye!]

 

I like the part where everyone I know has an opinion on it.

 

except for you?

 

I am part of the set, everyone I know.