Read your damn Bible, atheists!

February 22, 2010 12:46 pm

It’s not often that I’m in agreement with believers regarding religious education, but I have to admit that I found myself partial to the arguments of one William Ingram. In this National Post article, Ingram argues that Biblical illiteracy is something to be combated. I agree; there’s no better way to be an atheist than by carefully studying the Bible. It’s also extremely necessarily to have Bible literacy, as Ingram points out, to understand the narratives fundamentalists subscribe to.

So much of our society is awash in biblical parables and metaphors that a proper scholarly pursuit of the Bible is highly desirable. The difference between Ingram and I, obviously, is that I approach this book the same way I do the Iliad, or the Koran. All of these texts are nothing more than mythological and allegorical, and many of their moral tales are antiquated even cruel by today’s standards. It does not mean, however, that they have no value. They are a window into a different world, and the very fact that the Bible still has so much sway in society is a testament (pun intended) to the reverence we place on traditions or anything that’s “really old”.

So if you haven’t yet read your Bible, but want to have a great analysis along the way, try reading the Skeptic’s Annotated Bible. It almost makes the job bearable…

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9 Comments

Razzle

February 22, 2010

I recommend reading the New Living translation of the bible along side of the Skeptic’s Annotated version. The New Living translation is written in fairly plain English, even if some of the harsher terms are made to seem nicer, it’s helped me greatly to be able to understand what’s going on.
Kevin

February 22, 2010

There was no quicker path to atheism than by reading the bible, for me.
jammer

February 22, 2010

I have read it twice over the last year. First time I didnt get it all but the second time was easier. Now when a theist tells me “well you just need to read the Bible” I can say I have fuck face.. I did find somethings a bit off.. No where is the bible can I ind anything about abortion or the age of the earth. I guess Christians made that stuff up…
Razzle

February 22, 2010

//No where is the bible can I ind anything about abortion or the age of the earth//

The age of the earth is determined by taking the ages of the characters when they are born, all the way back to creation.

We can also assume that the bible endorses abortion, as children under 1 month have no value according to the monetary values God placed on humans.
Razzle

February 22, 2010

//The age of the earth is determined by taking the ages of the characters when they are born//

I meant when they had kids
jammer

February 22, 2010

True I have heard thats where they got it from, My point is that is not in the Bible and its information that theist say is true but is calculated outside the bible.. Of courser every one was about 500 years old.. What a POS book
bobcat

February 22, 2010

didn’t we only have 8 months back then?
O'Leary

February 23, 2010

Totally agree that if believers actually read the damn bible they would see what a load of silly tosh it is (and also what a cruel, petty and oafish despot their god is of course). I had to learn this tiresome tome as a JW, and always find myself banging my head on the wall when talking to believers who only know the nice “love thy neighbour” bits. Starting to consider keeping a bible close for any opportunities.

http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/
Jon

February 25, 2010

I’ve got a hell of a lot of mileage out of the Skeptics’ Bible… it rocks! On a related note – if you ever get the chance – have a look at a “Plain English Bible” some time if you can find a copy. It makes it a lot easier to understand and a LOT harder to swallow. It was definitely an eye-opener when I was still on my way to Atheism all those years ago.