Christians often give young children access to the Bible, but they don't tell them to believe whatever they want. But it is harder to convince people that god is good, once one reads some of the violent and nasty things from the "good book."
I do not know at what age I was given my own Bible, but I was very young. (Before that, I could look at one in my home.) And I could read it all I wanted. Now, of course, with the internet, it is easier to do some searching than it was when I was a child, so it is easier to find bits that throw Christianity into doubt. But, the stuff that is hard to take was there all along.
Having my own Bible really helped me see what is in it. Otherwise, one just gets fed whatever bits people decide to tell you about.
Of course, now, the whole thing is online, and one can search for things about the Bible online, giving one access to a lot of commentary about it, both pro and con, as well as exposing one to disputes between different Christians about some passages.
Basically, the more one knows about what is in the Bible, the harder it is to believe it.
I do not know at what age I was given my own Bible, but I was very young. (Before that, I could look at one in my home.) And I could read it all I wanted. Now, of course, with the internet, it is easier to do some searching than it was when I was a child, so it is easier to find bits that throw Christianity into doubt. But, the stuff that is hard to take was there all along.
Having my own Bible really helped me see what is in it. Otherwise, one just gets fed whatever bits people decide to tell you about.
Of course, now, the whole thing is online, and one can search for things about the Bible online, giving one access to a lot of commentary about it, both pro and con, as well as exposing one to disputes between different Christians about some passages.
Basically, the more one knows about what is in the Bible, the harder it is to believe it.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
