(March 10, 2009 at 10:27 am)Eilonnwy Wrote: A couple weeks ago I was at Borders purchasing some atheist books and I saw the bookshelves dedicated to just the Bible. I saw a decent sized copy of the NIV Bible for fairly cheap so I got it, figuring I could use it a reference. I've seen different versions of the Bible and find the NIV the easiest for me to read. Anyway, the other night I was bored and so I opened it up and read the first few chapters. Basically up until Noah's ark. I've toyed with the idea of reading the Bible but never acted on it. Let's be honest, it's not easy reading.
Agreed ... I have two copies, one King James and one NIV (I think) but I tend to use Bible Gateway for quoting online from it. I've toyed with the idea of reading it fully too.
(March 10, 2009 at 10:27 am)Eilonnwy Wrote: I also figured that if Christian's can argue for the Bible without having read it entirely I can do the same against it. I went to Chruch up until I was 18. (I was in a Catholic high school, so even though I was atheist by 16 I still had to go to church) and I've heard a lot of atheists bring up Bible stories and so I know some of the more obscure ones that are really damaging to Christianity. I have slightly more knowledge of the Bible than average Christians that I ahve come across, but admittedly not by much.
Not quite as bad as you ... raised Catholic and in Catholic schools until the age of 16, started to switch away from religion (and on to what I call Von Danikenism) about 13 and by the age of 16 I had stopped believing entirely (in anything much) but took the stance that I was agnostic. I don't know if I know the more obscure ones, the school was fairly mainstream and wasn't out to challenge standard rat-catcher lore, all I knew (I never really thought about it) was that we were the chosen ones and all the other Christians (obviously cults) would burn in hell when judgement day came ... hmm, where have I heard that from before?
Nevertheless, with my subsequent (late developing) interest in all things religious I still get the impression I know a lot more about the damned book than most of them do. And those that do appear to know more come across as so apologetic it's hard to get sensible arguments out of them.
(March 10, 2009 at 10:27 am)Eilonnwy Wrote: But I guess I figure if I'm going to argue with people about this book, it carries a bit more weight if I've read it front to back. So I'm gonna try. It will probably take me a while to get through it because I'm not going to try and attack it all at once and rush through it. I probably wont be able to take it in completely if I do that anyway.
Good luck, you'll need it ...
(March 10, 2009 at 10:27 am)Eilonnwy Wrote: Since I already have a Blog I think I'm going to blog about my Bible reading as I go, sharing thoughts, pointing out anything I find silly, offensive, horrendous, etc... Would that be something people find interesting to read?
... I tried it too ...
(March 10, 2009 at 10:27 am)Eilonnwy Wrote: Also who here has endeavored to read the Bible in it's entirety?
... and failed! I got bored before I'd got 2 pages into Genesis!
Biggest problem you're going to have when using the bible in debate is that you'll be told you're using the wrong version ... that's part of the reason I stick to websites. On Bible Gateway you can look up the passage you are interested in then freely convert the same passage into another version.
Currently I'm reading Ben Goldacre's "Bad Science"
Kyu
Angry Atheism
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Where those who are hacked off with the stupidity of irrational belief can vent their feelings!
Come over to the dark side, we have cookies!
Kyuuketsuki, AngryAtheism Owner & Administrator
