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For me, it was all of the human right violations. It just made no sense that a Greater Being would Create us and then condone (and in some cases, command) us grossly mistreating each other. And then the myriad contradictions and inconsistencies as well, but for me that was secondary.
So once you reject the idea that the Bible is written communication from a Greater Being, the whole thing unravels. If there is no written communication, and there has been no other communication, then the entire God belief is based on....what? Feelings? Tradition? Culture? There is nothing concrete.
It is possible to know the textual content without having any understanding of it's meaning. If you can't even explain why the stories have endured and been believed for so long, then you have no real understanding. The understanding is only superficial, and most of the atheist views on the Bible that I've seen would be laughed out of a high school religious studies class.
It is possible to know the textual content without having any understanding of it's meaning. If you can't even explain why the stories have endured and been believed for so long, then you have no real understanding. The understanding is only superficial, and most of the atheist views on the Bible that I've seen would be laughed out of a high school religious studies class.
And yet, here you are chatting adults, many of whom are laughing at your views.
I don't get it...some are out and out scholars it seems!
Well I am an atheist and have been since I was 6 or so. I know enough about the bible to know its baloney. However I do attend meetups and other groups with Atheists who do know lots about the bible and its usually because they were brought up Christian, they are very smart and learned a lot about the bible and then came to the conclusion that its baloney.
What is telling is how little most Christians understand about the scientific explanation of things. I have never met a devout Christian who really understands science.
Well I am an atheist and have been since I was 6 or so. I know enough about the bible to know its baloney. However I do attend meetups and other groups with Atheists who do know lots about the bible and its usually because they were brought up Christian, they are very smart and learned a lot about the bible and then came to the conclusion that its baloney.
What is telling is how little most Christians understand about the scientific explanation of things. I have never met a devout Christian who really understands science.
1. Yes. The vast majority of christians in the U.S. get their christianity taught through attending church. Period. I have known very few who do any extensive reading...maybe the bible...but rarely anything beyond that. If that level of christian knowledge is good enough to lead to a decision to "accept" christ, then it's also good enough to make a decision to reject christ.
2. When I was teaching evolution in earth science in high school, far too many parents came in and said -- literally -- "I don't want my son to think".
1. Yes. The vast majority of christians in the U.S. get their christianity taught through attending church. Period. I have known very few who do any extensive reading...maybe the bible...but rarely anything beyond that. If that level of christian knowledge is good enough to lead to a decision to "accept" christ, then it's also good enough to make a decision to reject christ.
2. When I was teaching evolution in earth science in high school, far too many parents came in and said -- literally -- "I don't want my son to think".
It's remarkable how often I've heard variants on that. "It is a sin to think. It is pleasing to God to check your brain at the church door and just have faith". It's creepy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OzzyRules
It is possible to know the textual content without having any understanding of it's meaning. If you can't even explain why the stories have endured and been believed for so long, then you have no real understanding. The understanding is only superficial, and most of the atheist views on the Bible that I've seen would be laughed out of a high school religious studies class.
The idea that the Exodus never happened would no doubt be laughed out of a high -school religious indoctrination - class, but that's the way it's looking.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oklazona Bound
Well I am an atheist and have been since I was 6 or so. I know enough about the bible to know its baloney. However I do attend meetups and other groups with Atheists who do know lots about the bible and its usually because they were brought up Christian, they are very smart and learned a lot about the bible and then came to the conclusion that its baloney.
What is telling is how little most Christians understand about the scientific explanation of things. I have never met a devout Christian who really understands science.
Indeed. It's often forgotten that a great many atheists are former beleivers and moreover studying the Bible more than the norm is regularly cited as the reason they ceased to believe it. True, they often found ways of making it important in their lives and sometimes they have up Bible and just became non -religious theists.
And yet, here you are chatting adults, many of whom are laughing at your views.
A classroom of preschool children might laugh at an adult sometimes. That doesn't mean they know more than the adult. When it comes to the Bible, I see atheists discussing it as a group of children at play.
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