Do you think you'd still be a believer if the bible were more pleasant/accurate?

[Fake Messiah]

There are better religions then ones that sprouted from the Bible like Jainism whose members believe in many ridiculous stuff about reality but non of which that could lit the fires of the Inquisition and yet it doesn't even cross your mind to join them, because there was no adult in your childhood to reel you into it and lie it to you that it's all real.

And also there really is no need for religion to scare people in order to be "good" or moral and overall altruism, it's just the way living beings function. We benefit from having a reputation for generosity since you expect to be repaid someday. Friendly relationships wouldn’t last long if you were always a taker but never a giver. Imagine if you have a friend that helped you move and then when your friend had to move she called you up for help and you replied "Fuck you I'm too lazy, do you want to meet next week for beer?"

That's also how animals live by, like this turtle - I mean is this turtle a Christian or Janist or in Scientology?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFT67kstFhw

[Little lunch]

Min took my spotlight.

Just cause it's a fairy tale doesn't mean it belongs to you. :-)

[ignoramus]

FM, why couldn't the turtle simply have flipped the other turtle in order to have sex with it? No compassion or morals involved. Just the instinct to reproduce.

[abaris]

No, for the simple fact that reading the bible didn't make me an atheist. The world and it's history did. Biology class at school contributed as well as frequent visits to the museum of natural history with my parents. The primeval ocean shores at my doorstep, complete with fossilized shells may have contributed too. God's nature, as described in the bible, didn't play a major role.

But I grew up in a liberal environment. A copy of the Naked Ape by Desmond Morris was in our extensive library as well as the works of Alfred Charles Kinsey. It was the 60ies, and my parents, already in their 40ies, rather went to parties than to church. My brother, 15 years my senior, introduced me to booze and music.

[Homeless Nutter]

For me to still be a believer - the bible would have to be A LOT more pleasant. Basically - it would have to be porn...

[Mudhammam]

Sure. If the Jesus stuff wasn't connected to the old testament, and it really was just about loving your neighbor, giving to the needy, and stuff like that, I'd still be a believer. that's how it was sold to me in the church, more or less. That kind of mindset doesn't really hurt anyone. Hippie Jesus is a cool guy. It's just the other stuff that kind of wrecks it for me. Though the fact that the Jesus story isn't very unique, or original, kind of wrecks it for me too.

Well, don't forget that Jesus sometimes fell into fits of madness which spawned such unfortunate sayings as:

I mean, sure, apart from his utterly grotesque message of the perils that await nonbelievers after death, and his advocating blind adherence to authority rather evidence or reason, he was a "cool guy."

[ignoramus]

HM, I can see you fucking mother Teresa! Then she gives you a blow job but needs to take her teeth out first! I'd pay to watch that!@

[Angrboda]

I converted from Hinduism. My god was not a nasty character and I still deconverted.

[Chad32]

Sure. If the Jesus stuff wasn't connected to the old testament, and it really was just about loving your neighbor, giving to the needy, and stuff like that, I'd still be a believer. that's how it was sold to me in the church, more or less. That kind of mindset doesn't really hurt anyone. Hippie Jesus is a cool guy. It's just the other stuff that kind of wrecks it for me. Though the fact that the Jesus story isn't very unique, or original, kind of wrecks it for me too.

Well, don't forget that Jesus sometimes fell into fits of madness which spawned such unfortunate sayings as:

I mean, sure, apart from his utterly grotesque message of the perils that await nonbelievers after death, and his advocating blind adherence to authority rather evidence or reason, he was a "cool guy."

Some of the things he says are wrong. Like abandoning your family, and giving away every one of your possessions. Of course most people can say some things that are wise, and then some things that are stupid. My church didn't focus much on the stupid things Jesus said.

[drfuzzy]

Um . . . (shudder) . . . that's a definite, well, probably yes for me.  I mean, I was so brainwashed that it took real nastiness in the Pentecostal church (think Westboro Baptist - violent upbringing, huge judgmental church attitudes, hypocrisy, seeing preacher after preacher raping kids and having affairs) PLUS growing up gay in such an environment, and then education - - before my brainwashing began to slip.  
    If the environment had been positive and pleasant I don't think I would have ever questioned whether god might exist.

I still like reading the Tao te Ching and some Buddhist teachings . . . if the Bible had been closer to those . . . I'd probably still be a theist.