Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Heathen Dawn · 08-20-2003, 07:31 AM

I've read the original Hebrew Bible (beginning at Genesis, ending at 2 Chronicles). I haven't read the NT (wasn't part of my upbringing).

Arvel Joffi · 08-20-2003, 10:08 AM

I've tried a few times, but I've only managed to get through a few chapters, here and there. It's just so arbitrary and random. Leviticus is just a laugh riot. I love how Xtians get pissed when you quote passages in there about unclean women or lizards crawling around earthen jars - "that's the old testament!" But it seems to be the most commonly used source for the damnation of homosexuals.

Pick and choose religion.

What I read of Revelations was pretty entertaining. I want whatever John was smoking.

cheetah · 08-20-2003, 10:19 AM

I've read it once all the way through, plus parts at other times. The "all the way through" was due to a required clas at college. First quarter was old testament, second quarter was new testament. It wasn't from a religious perspective, though, more of a literary one (I went to a pretty liberal college). It was really interesting, actually, and we got to know more about the environment in which it was written.

Graeme · 08-20-2003, 10:21 AM

The only bible verses I've ever read I read at www.skepticsannotatedbible.com

Dreaming Skin · 08-20-2003, 10:42 AM

I generally like sci-fi and fantasy novels, but I found The Bible suffered from poor plotting and ill-conceived character motivations. Making matters worse, it makes an all-too ambitious attempt to cover thousands of years of time and the crytpic, ambiguous ending sucks. Add a heavy-handed political agenda and you've got all the ingredients of a literary bomb.

Aravnah Ornan · 08-20-2003, 10:42 AM

I've read the Bible. It's an excellent Chick tract for atheism.

For most of my time as a true believer, I was content to know only those parts of the Bible that were read from the pulpit or covered in a highly selective Bible study at church or in Intervarsity. It often seems to me that that's at least as much as most Christians ever know of the Bible.

Then I decided that I would take the trouble to read, from Genesis to Revelation, that book in which I claimed to believe. That pretty much did my faith in. And yes, believers have complimented me on my Bible knowledge, although they've asked me why I'm not still a true believer if I know the Bible so well.

squiddy · 08-20-2003, 11:01 AM

Read most of it. Even attended bible study classes and subscribed to a home lobotomy -- er... I mean home study course.

I ate Pascal's Wafer · 08-20-2003, 01:13 PM

I've read about 1/4 of it and counting. I decided that I should consider reading the Bible since it seems to be a big thing with some people. It's really a poorly written book, in my opinion.

-Nick

Viti · 08-20-2003, 01:19 PM

I have skimmed all of it, read about 3/4 of it. I just couldn't read all the Psalms and genealogies and that at all so skipped those parts.

Evolutionist · 08-20-2003, 01:58 PM

i've read all of the more "interesting" parts of the bible, the bits i usually get asked about- genesis, levicticus, revelation etc- but i found the book generally mind numbingly boring. i've tried litterally 16 times now to read the whole thing but it's impossible.

actually, i'm glad to find i'm not the only one to think so too. reading most of the replies it's easy to think i'm surrounded by people who have read the thing numerous times, in the original greek and heybrew... not to mention the latin translations and all the major translations of the bible in the shops- KJV, NIV, TEV etc

View Poll Results: Have you read the Bible?
Yes, or most of it anyway.	64	53.78%
No, only parts or less	54	45.38%
Don't know/Can't read	1	0.84%
Voters: 119. This poll is closed

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08-20-2003, 07:31 AM	#21
Heathen Dawn Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 4,656	I've read the original Hebrew Bible (beginning at Genesis, ending at 2 Chronicles). I haven't read the NT (wasn't part of my upbringing).

08-20-2003, 10:08 AM	#22
Arvel Joffi Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 3,359	I've tried a few times, but I've only managed to get through a few chapters, here and there. It's just so arbitrary and random. Leviticus is just a laugh riot. I love how Xtians get pissed when you quote passages in there about unclean women or lizards crawling around earthen jars - "that's the old testament!" But it seems to be the most commonly used source for the damnation of homosexuals. Pick and choose religion. What I read of Revelations was pretty entertaining. I want whatever John was smoking.

08-20-2003, 10:19 AM	#23
cheetah Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,118	I've read it once all the way through, plus parts at other times. The "all the way through" was due to a required clas at college. First quarter was old testament, second quarter was new testament. It wasn't from a religious perspective, though, more of a literary one (I went to a pretty liberal college). It was really interesting, actually, and we got to know more about the environment in which it was written.

08-20-2003, 10:21 AM	#24
Graeme Banned Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 5,447	The only bible verses I've ever read I read at www.skepticsannotatedbible.com

08-20-2003, 10:42 AM	#25
Dreaming Skin Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Rock Hell, SC Posts: 263	I generally like sci-fi and fantasy novels, but I found The Bible suffered from poor plotting and ill-conceived character motivations. Making matters worse, it makes an all-too ambitious attempt to cover thousands of years of time and the crytpic, ambiguous ending sucks. Add a heavy-handed political agenda and you've got all the ingredients of a literary bomb.

08-20-2003, 10:42 AM	#26
Aravnah Ornan Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Alexandria, VA, Faith-Based States of Jesusland Posts: 1,794	I've read the Bible. It's an excellent Chick tract for atheism. For most of my time as a true believer, I was content to know only those parts of the Bible that were read from the pulpit or covered in a highly selective Bible study at church or in Intervarsity. It often seems to me that that's at least as much as most Christians ever know of the Bible. Then I decided that I would take the trouble to read, from Genesis to Revelation, that book in which I claimed to believe. That pretty much did my faith in. And yes, believers have complimented me on my Bible knowledge, although they've asked me why I'm not still a true believer if I know the Bible so well.

08-20-2003, 11:01 AM	#27
squiddy Regular Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Stuck in a red state Posts: 388	Read most of it. Even attended bible study classes and subscribed to a home lobotomy -- er... I mean home study course.

08-20-2003, 01:13 PM	#28
I ate Pascal's Wafer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 1,460	I've read about 1/4 of it and counting. I decided that I should consider reading the Bible since it seems to be a big thing with some people. It's really a poorly written book, in my opinion. -Nick

08-20-2003, 01:19 PM	#29
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	I have skimmed all of it, read about 3/4 of it. I just couldn't read all the Psalms and genealogies and that at all so skipped those parts.

08-20-2003, 01:58 PM	#30
Evolutionist Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: London Posts: 680	i've read all of the more "interesting" parts of the bible, the bits i usually get asked about- genesis, levicticus, revelation etc- but i found the book generally mind numbingly boring. i've tried litterally 16 times now to read the whole thing but it's impossible. actually, i'm glad to find i'm not the only one to think so too. reading most of the replies it's easy to think i'm surrounded by people who have read the thing numerous times, in the original greek and heybrew... not to mention the latin translations and all the major translations of the bible in the shops- KJV, NIV, TEV etc

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