Why I think atheists should not reject all religious text.

[boothj1985]

The best verses in my opinion are very brief and shouldn't take up much of your time and yes the ideas are just that if you don't substitute the incentive of pleasing god with something else, like caring for other beings simply because they are alive like you. I don't think anyone intends to reject every bit of a religious text but they develop a chip on their shoulder over the years understandably as they are constantly bombarded with religious talk and judgmental attitudes.

Ok so you say there are a few short verses of good wisdom hidden in these tomes. Possible. You're not asking me to read all of it. I don't see any evidence that atheists reject them just *because* they also appear in a religious context.

Here's a link to the article that provoked me to join this site and open this thread: http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics...moral.html. The info presented in it may be biased or fabricated but if it is true, I just wondered if my theory as to why may be correct.

[jesus_wept]

Again, I think you completely misunderstood what I originally said.

I'm giving you enough credit to assume you(and most atheists) are smart enough to filter out anything that's not helpful. If I'm still not getting your original point, would you mind re-framing it so that I can get a clearer picture?

What "good teachings" can we get from the bible that we can't get from secular sources?

I'm going to ignore your appeal to cherry pick the bible BTW.

[Alex K]

Here's a link to the article that provoked me to join this site and open this thread: http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics...moral.html. The info presented in it may be biased or fabricated but if it is true, I just wondered if my theory as to why may be correct.

[boothj1985]

I'm giving you enough credit to assume you(and most atheists) are smart enough to filter out anything that's not helpful. If I'm still not getting your original point, would you mind re-framing it so that I can get a clearer picture?

What "good teachings" can we get from the bible that we can't get from secular sources?

I'm going to ignore your appeal to cherry pick the bible BTW.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. (Ecclesiastes 7:8) Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, (1 Corinthians 13:4) We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:14) The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. (James 5:7). Just a few examples. I omitted part of the last one which refers to waiting on the lord which can be done for any other that is intertwined with "divinity" and morality.

[Alex K]

Here's a link to the article that provoked me to join this site and open this thread: http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics...moral.html. The info presented in it may be biased or fabricated but if it is true, I just wondered if my theory as to why may be correct.

That's the dumbest christer propaganda I've seen in a long time. What a funny exercise in lying, hypocrisy and general missing the point.
Amusing: the category of public profanity. Yeah I'm immoral alright.

Btw your link has a . too many

[boothj1985]

Here's a link to the article that provoked me to join this site and open this thread: http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics...moral.html. The info presented in it may be biased or fabricated but if it is true, I just wondered if my theory as to why may be correct.

I can only imagine that you are trying to make some kind of dismissive statement with this blank reply and if so, and the reason is you think I'm secretly trying to convert you, you are completely incorrect. I deal with all kind of backlash for speaking up about my anti-religious views. The only reason I am doing this is because I want to be 100% sure that an atheist world(unlikely to ever exist nevertheless) is actually sustainable. Many "Christians" simply use it as a social gathering utility or some other form of convenience and perhaps a way to be kept in "check" by other members of their church, all the while knowing the improbability of it and I want to be sure that they don't have the right idea instead.

[robvalue]

I have been through quite a lot of the bible, in detail. The extremely few good bits of advice it has to offer are blindingly obvious to any reasonable person.

Also, it's entirely pointless for morality because it's stuffed full of so much immoral stuff, you have to have already decided what is moral in order to pick out the moral bits.

I don't dismiss all ideas in a book because I don't like the book. But I don't pick up books irrelevant to what I want to learn, either. I don't pick up a cookery book because it might just have something about swimming in it.

I have no problem reading and evaluating holy books. I've seen enough of the content over my years to have a good idea what's going on. And I'm being presented with the best bits, mostly.

My verdict? It's shit. If your aim is to learn about morality, read a book about morality. Why would I expect Bronze Age nomad barbarians to know something about morality that I haven't already learned from civilised society? Same goes for wisdom. They didn't know fuck all, that's pretty clear.

I get what point you're trying to make, but I think its misguided. If you think we should read through ever bit of religious literature ever written, in any religion, just in case there is some tiny bit of wisdom that isn't completely obvious... Why? That would take a long time, and a lot of hunting down the material, for extremely little or no likely gain. We only live for so long (atheists anyway) so if I want to spend time learning, I go to the good stuff.

[Alex K]

I can only imagine that you are trying to make some kind of dismissive statement with this blank reply

No, Jesus! relax, I just took a bit longer typing and copypasting on the phone

[jesus_wept]

What "good teachings" can we get from the bible that we can't get from secular sources?

I'm going to ignore your appeal to cherry pick the bible BTW.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. (Ecclesiastes 7:8) Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, (1 Corinthians 13:4) We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:14) The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. (James 5:7). Just a few examples. I omitted part of the last one which refers to waiting on the lord which can be done for any other that is intertwined with "divinity" and morality.

I asked you to provide examples of "good teachings" which could not found in secular sources but you seem to have misunderstood me again - being patient is not a good teaching that can only be found in the bible for example. And I don't know how to rephrase the question any simpler for you so I don't think there is much point carrying on this conversation.

[robvalue]

Also, Christians spend most of their time explaining why they do the exact opposite of what the bible says. And they worship the book.

That's not a good sign for someone who considers it fiction.

Do you read Harry potter for wisdom and morality teachings?