Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Religion
Related: About this forumWhy this atheist likes the Bible
U.S. Vice President Joseph Joe Biden, left, places his hand on the Biden Family Bible held by his wife Jill Biden, center, as he takes the oath of office from Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, right, during and official ceremony at the Naval Observatory,in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. Photographer: Carolyn Kaster/Pool via Bloomberg
October 15 at 8:02 am
By Herb Silverman
What do Christian fundamentalists and many atheists have in common? Both read the Bible as if it were meant to be taken literally, and both quote selected passages to buttress their case. Some atheists, for instance, cite biblical passages that justify stoning for heresy, blasphemy, adultery, homosexuality, working on Sabbath, worshipping graven images, and practicing sorcery.
While atheists might attack or make fun of the Bible because of biblical literalists, it is important to distinguish between the quality of a book and the behavior of its adherents. For better or worse, the Bible and the many religions it spawned have deeply influenced our culture and the world. For that reason alone, the Bible is worth reading. Although atheists rank highest in religious knowledge, atheists should try to understand why so many love the Bible even if they havent actually read it.
Some atheists make the same mistake as theists, treating the Bible as either all good or all bad. While it contains many boring, anachronistic, contradictory, and repetitive sections, it also has passages with rich and diverse meanings. The same can be said for Greek mythologyfictional tales that were once considered religious texts.
As a child, I enjoyed reading Aesops fables and biblical stories. Both have talking animals, along with moral lessons and universal truths. Leaving aside the question of which imparts better advice (though no Bible story was as consequential for me as Aesops The boy who cried wolf), at least Aesops stories are recognized as fables.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/wp/2013/10/15/why-this-atheist-likes-the-bible/
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
2 replies, 655 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (1)
ReplyReply to this post
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Why this atheist likes the Bible (Original Post)
rug
Oct 2013
OP
I like the King James Version for the beauty of its prose, a work of literture.
Agnosticsherbet
Oct 2013
#1
He demonstrates grafting his morals onto Biblical fables, coming to, no surprise...
Humanist_Activist
Oct 2013
#2
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)1. I like the King James Version for the beauty of its prose, a work of literture.
I dislike the updated, Reader's Digest and right wing religious director's cut versions.
Humanist_Activist
(7,670 posts)2. He demonstrates grafting his morals onto Biblical fables, coming to, no surprise...
opposite morals than what the Bible intended, and what many believers, whether literalists or not, intend.
Atheists do view the Bible as a collection of tales similar to Aesop's fables or Homer's epics, we also understand that the people who wrote all these stories were primitive and didn't share our current ethical outlook.