Why I think atheists should not reject all religious text.

[The Grand Nudger]

I wonder if anyone has looked into the possible problem of the repel-effect in which a person who doesn't want to follow false teachings accidentally becomes contrary to many good teachings that are contained within the religious text of a religion. I mainly speak of Christianity because it is what I have most knowledge of but from what I've heard of some other religions I think this may be relevant to them also. Wisdom such as treating others the way you want to be treated are pretty obvious but there are many subtle bits of wisdom that are often forgotten if not frequently reviewed. Not only are these neglected by someone who discards the entire religious text but that person may also be subconsciously driven to rebel against almost everything in the book in order to distance themselves as far as they can from it. I can some up the problem with a quote my mother often said; "don't throw out the baby with the bath water".

I'm unimpressed with the "good teachings" of religious texts. "Be good to each other -because god-" is just garbage. I have many alternatives with are secular and will not fall-the-fuck-apart at the level of justification. I'm particularly unimpressed with the bible, both OT and NT. So I'll pass, but thanks.

As stories I like them, as cliff notes for life they're abysmal.

(sub-consciously driven to rebel...false teachings...what church did you escape from? What about all the wisdom of faiths other than the christian one that boil down to "christianity is full of shit", or is there some approved list of wisdom to which you're referring- and who sat down and hammered that out?)