treat2

Ignoring book based on faith, and a few historical references is a better option, when there are so many other better sources for a person to decide what is moral and what is not, as well as, what historical facts are known to hisorians, and which are still either unknown or debatable.

Peter Kirby

For me, it's fun! And one of the big reasons that it is fun is that so many people are already actively engaged in research and discussion of these ancient texts. I wasn't drawn to this area of study all at once, but it blossomed after reading stuff on the internet and participating in discussions in which people argued religion. You will find that many people read the biblical texts with an eye to discrediting or promoting particular faith stances. That has its place, but there is a lot of work that can be done in archaeology and related fields (for example, a few years from now I would like to do some research with stylometry). At this point I study lishmah or for its own sake, just as I take pleasure in getting to the top of Half Dome at Yosemite.

best,
Peter Kirby

treat2

Point taken.

However, it does leave an impression in the minds of non-Atheists
that all Atheists are "anti-", or Atheism requires an "anti-"
view on religion, despite the facdt that Atheism is not an
anti-religious belief.

On the other hand, there are plenty of good people that are religious, and are content to leave Atheists alone. What point is there in taking an enjoyment in tering down their belief system?

So, I get back to my original point. Why bother?

Better yet. If it's fun, and you REALLY wanna make an impression, why not go to a Christian or other religious Site, and just spend your time there, having fun?

Peter Kirby

What does "Atheism" have to do with the OP or my reply?

These days I take enjoyment in such a thing as writing a paper on Euripides and Luke. It's not about scoring points or a "belief system."

I spend time in forums that have a higher proportion of informed people. As far as web-based boards go, IIDB's Biblical Criticism & History has some of the best quality and balance of participation.

best,
Peter Kirby

treat2

Your claim to enjoy criticising the bible, and being religious too, is of no importance to me.

As an Atheist, both the bible and religion are totally unimportant to me, until some moron tries to ram it down everyone's throat.

I hadn't considered that you might not be an Atheist that enjoys criticisng the bible, perhaps you are a Jain, or a Heathen, or a Jew, or a Born Again Christian that just enjoys criticising the bible.

You're right...

It was an assumption, with no basis in reality, nor on what so many other Atheists, than I enjoy doing.

Wishing you continued fun, and even more challenges at religious Sites! -treat2

Celsus

You better reread Peter Kirby's posts. He's one of our former moderators.

I love the Bible too. Although I'd read it several times as a Christian, I only properly ventured into the scholarship involved after deconverting several years ago. I used to think of the Bible as hate-filled, misogynistic, etc. but I realise it's a masterwork of ancient literature, and studying it is absolutely fascinating in bringing new perspectives to light. Once you consistently set the Bible in the time it was written and ignore the later Jewish and Christian interpretations, you can grasp the amazing skill with which the scribes wrote it, compiling ancient sources that have now lasted for millenia. It's a breathtaking view from here. Now I don't "criticise" the Bible according to the pejorative sense of the word, but I greatly enjoy "criticising" it in the literary sense, as does anyone who reads the "Biblical Criticism and History" forum. Those who just wish to bash it or defend a literal sense don't usually last very long here.

Joel

Peter Kirby

To each her own. In a video that I watched in anthropology class recently, a woman with a British accent in the African bush was studying a couple of great apes, when at one point the ape playfully struck the researcher with some force. "I consider it a privelege" was her response. The scientist produced a painstaking ethology that took over 1000 hours of observation to produce. The joy of the work is in the process of doing it and the camaraderie of colleagues.

best,
Peter Kirby

Calzaer

Because as soon as we stop, they'll say "AHA! They can't refute us! We win!" and the unwashed faceless sheep of the general public will go "ooh..." and follow them right off the cliff.

So, nice try, but we're not just going to give up because you say we should.

treat2

criticisng the bible at a religious Site?

As an Atheist, the bible, god(s), and all of that junk is totally irrelevant to me.

The ONLY thing that is relevant is when a religious group tries to shove that crap down everyone's throat in a Public School, a law, or an interpretation of a law, and that sort of thing.

I don't care about, think about, or talk about the bible, or magical creatures. It's meaningless to me.

The idea of trying to tear down someone else's belief's when they do NOT shove their crap at me, is abhorrent, distasteful, and a waste of time. In fact, I consider it as idiotic as the morons that follow Falwell's way of thinking, and thry to shove their hateful crap at people.

Despite my having absolutely no belief in any kind of god(s), I don't waste my time trying to criticise people that believe differently when those people are not doing anything to me.

Your time would be better spent in investigating why there has been no challange to teaching "creationism" in Public Schools, and in using the Net to contact folks, like the ACLU to bring a case to the Supreme Court against it. Frankely, it is quite a bit more important than the Pledge case, since it goes to the education and therefore the future of the intelligence of the people in this country.

Trash the nice try junk. The criticism stuff is boring. What is more interesting are some of the remote similarities that can be found in history with some events depicted in the bible. If your on a critisim trip, why not go to a religious Site, and waste your time with those idiots about the bible. The stuff isn't relevant to what is REALLY important to Atheists!!!

Calzaer

Based solely on the sheer number of times you use the phrase "as an Atheist", I'm getting less and less inclined to believe you actually are one.

Particularly since your only purpose on this board so far seems to be attempting to dissuade us from questioning Christianity.