Why Would An Atheist Read The Bible?

[nailit]

Why would a creationist read The God Delusion?

Anyway, Ive set myself a goal (always lived my life by goal setting, it focus's the mind) to read the entire Bible...Genesis to Revelation...in 3 months!
Ive read the entire Bible before, but forgot much of it, and after a few conversations at work (with Evangelicals) Ive decided to read the lot again. After 14 days I am currently at the first few chapters of Deuteronomy. Have struggled (but persevered) through meaningless chapter after after chapter of animal sacrifices in Numbers to meaningless chapter after chapter of ridiculous laws in Leviticus, with endless repetitions of genealogies and the endless repetition of killing animals because it is a *Pleasing aroma before the Lord*

I can quiet understand why Bible believers have never read the Bible.
Its Boring.
Its sick
Its Immoral
Its irrelevant

But I'll read it!
Can Bible believers understand why I will?
(for the next couple of months at least)
;-)

[Mamyalynne]

You are not wrong about interesting, especially if studying and observing behavioral traits is your thing - very interesting and informative.

[beso]

Theland //What caused the universe to begin?
I have an answer that satisfies me.//

"God did it" is the only answer that would satisfy you.

You are very easily satisfied with what is really a non-answer and apply no critical analysis whatsoever. Meanwhile you believe that every aspect of the real answers provided by science are "assumptions".

Yet you whole "answer" relies on an assumption that the Bible is the work of a supernatural deity, despite plenty of evidence that it is nonsense written by arrogant, ignorant men who assumed their personal prejudices were given to them by a god.

[Deskdiary]

Theland at 23.31 yesterday.

I think that’s a great answer, and I utterly respect you for having that point of view.

In return, you should the respect the point of view of those of us who know there’s no god and who think religion is absurd.

[Zacs-Master]

How do you know there’s no God?

[waterboatman]

How do you know there is?

[Zacs-Master]

I never said I did.

[archibaldy]

How would anyone know?

[beso]

Zacs-Master //How do you know there’s no God? //

The notion that the Universe began with the most complex thing possible is absurd. A disembodied consciousness that had nowhere to exist.

Science tells us the Universe began as a single pixel of intense formless energy and describes a small number of relationships that define the processes that lead from that formless energy to everything we see today.

If there were a role for a god then it would to trigger the single pixel of energy. There would still be no explanation for the origin of the disembodied consciousness so why bother considering it?

[jim360]

Strictly speaking, we don't know anyone about how the Universe began. Physics can only tell us about what happened after that.

In any case, it wasn't really a pixel, but an infinitely dense state. There's an important distinction to be made between the two.

[mibn2cweus]

If you don't know how . . . how do you know?

[Theland]

Deskdiary- did you mean 23:31 ?

[beso]

jim360 //In any case, it wasn't really a pixel, but an infinitely dense state.//

An infinitely dense state is not something Physics can even comment on. The earliest that Physics can make a statement about is when the Universe was one Planck length in diameter and contained the entire mass. This is not an infinite density.

The Planck Length is the pixel spacing of reality. There are no smaller distances. As far a Physics is concerned, the Universe popped into reality at that size.

[Theland]

I simply don't understand how different scientists can answer with such certainty the beginning of the universe.
They are caught up in mathematics and theory but none can envision a universe from nothing, yet is, no thing.

[Mozz71]

//I simply don't understand how different scientists can answer with such certainty the beginning of the universe//

Because, with all due respect, they are more intelligent than you. Certainly within the subject of Astrophysics.

Also, you have no desire to believe them as it would disprove your own beliefs about the creation.

[pixie374]

Until and unless proven otherwise, there is no reason for "anybody" to think there is a God. You prove things positive, not negative.
As it has never been even vaguely proven, there is no reason I would believe it. It makes no difference that I don't know the "real" answer. I would rather wait until the truth is known, than go along with the easiest solution.

[Theland]

Examine the truth of the bible will help, along with deductive reasoning, and the science coming out of intelligent design..
But of course thei opens up a whole new can of worms that will probably invite criticism of the ill mannered type. We'll see.

[Khandro]

"Why would a creationist read The God Delusion?"
"Why Would An Atheist Read The Bible?"

I've read them both ..... the bible is better.

[Mozz71]

//Examine the truth of the bible will help//

What truth? The Bible is a collection of stories. There are no truths in it, no proof of factuality. It is only perceived as truth if you take a leap of faith, but if you read it without that leap, it is no more factual than a Marvel comic.

[pixie374]

No, it doesn't help theland. In what way do you think it answers anything?
Khandro, I have read both, and disagree. Although neither give definitive answers, as nobody actually knows.

[Theland]

Just a few facts that convince me of the authenticity of the bible.
It predicts the history of the Jews and Israel from when written right up to the present day.
Against all odds, Israel won wars in 1948, 1967, and 1973, and is still surrounded by enemies.
Yet it thrives and is truly blessed by God as the bible predicted.