You can't be an atheist if you haven't read the bible

Someone said on an other site "You can't be an atheist if you haven't read the bible".  How can you disagree with something you know nothing about?

Seems like a good question to discuss.  I've never read the bible.  I know stories from the bible. I've read about the bible.  People have been preaching to me since I was a kid. But, I spent my youth playing, studying and being surrounded by a loving family.  I'll take those experiences over the bible study and church going any day.  I'm still an atheist. 

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Permalink Reply by Rayray on February 5, 2010 at 10:58am
Ask them if they have read about the ancient Gods like Triton and Poseidon, and ask if they still rebuke them even though they haven't studied them. Chances are they haven't. Ask them first if they rebuke Mohammad being the messiah then give them their own argument. How could they disagree with all other religions if they haven't read the Koran or Torah or any other religious book besides the Bible.
Permalink Reply by Edward Teach on March 15, 2010 at 11:52am
Exactly!
Permalink Reply by Jennifer Nicole on March 15, 2010 at 12:31pm
Don't forget that many Christians have never actually read their own Bible, either. >.X
Permalink Reply by Rayray on March 17, 2010 at 5:44am
Yep, I run into that all the time. I quote scripture to them and they grab their bible to make sure the unbelievable is so. They are usually dumbfounded.
Permalink Reply by Scott on April 17, 2010 at 11:53am
That was going to be my point. Most of the things that I hear are covered in the first 20 pages of the old testament. Beyond that is where it really starts to get dry and really boring and really useless. Only 800 pages to go.....
Permalink Reply by Michael on June 25, 2010 at 9:58am
I think it was Lincoln that said some about how reading the bible only leads to atheism.
Permalink Reply by Howard S. Dunn on February 5, 2010 at 11:07am
You can certainly be a Catholic if you haven't read the Bible. They prefer that. Half the stuff of Catholicism isn't even in the Bible (Stations of the Cross, Saints, etc.)
Permalink Reply by Heather on March 15, 2010 at 11:38am
"The advice I'd give to any atheist would be read. Read anything you can get a hold of regardless of genre. Learn. Ask. More than ask - question. They are different things."

That would be advice I'd give to anyone.
Permalink Reply by Linda Turnipseed on February 5, 2010 at 11:34am
I agree that it would be hard to be familiar with all the holy books of all the religions. However, for most of us, Christianity is the religion with which we are most surrounded. It doesn't hurt to be a little familiar with the Christian holy book, if only to be able to respond to those who say that if we only understood what is in it, we would surely believe as they do. In fact, I find that I know much more about the history of the bible than many of my religious friends.
Having said all that, I do believe that a person can arrive at atheism via several different routes; reading and rejecting the dogma in 'holy books' being just one among many.
Permalink Reply by tom arcaro on February 6, 2010 at 5:22am
OMG....but why?
Permalink Reply by Heather on March 15, 2010 at 11:40am
lol so that when a christians tells you that if you read the bible you'll be filled with jesus (i think jesus sounds kinda pervy to be honest.. @_o) you can reply " But I have read the bible.. have you?' and then watch t hem squirm because they obviously haven't. Unfortunately burden of proof should be on them, but they dont' see it that way.. and you can't help them gain any kind of understanding of where you're coming from unless you can argue with their own texts.. so knowing the bible really well comes in very handy and has even helped us deconvert a few people.
Permalink Reply by Gliktch on March 15, 2010 at 1:10pm
'you can reply " But I have read the bible.. have you?' and then watch t hem squirm because they obviously haven't.' - Heather

I tried to read it, but I got to the part with all the begatting and skipped to the end...

***** SPOILER ALERT *****















Jesus dies.

:D

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