# Atheists and Biblical Familiarity **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 8, 2019, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179 "2019-02-08T15:20:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/61 "2019-02-09T02:04:44Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > What about people who were raised in a faith other than Christianity who later profess atheism, or at least no specific religion? I put “read the Bible” but I guess there are different levels of reading the Bible. I grew up in a non-religious household with Chinese immigrant parents, and first encountered a Bible in the form of a “Good News Bible” given to me by a door-to-door missionary when I was about 10 years old. I read it cover to cover, because hey, this book is FAMOUS, right? I didn’t realize it wasn’t the whole Bible until later. How much later? I’m going to guess I was 12 or 13 years old, because I started listening to rock radio in 7th grade after a school bus I took for a while had a driver that regularly put on the NY station WNEW-FM while driving, and I was familar with the Jethro Tull song “Aqualung” which mentioned picking up “Gideon’s Bible, open at page one”. The next time we were in a hotel or motel room while traveling, I looked in the bedside drawer and found a Gideon’s Bible, and hey, it had both “Old” and “New” Testaments in it! The book said to take it, so I did. I still have it. I have read the first five books of the Old Testament in detail (the Pentateuch), but sort of petered out after that, as the begats and the prophets of the doom of Israel and the Babylonian Exile and so on didn’t really speak that much to me. Frankly what’s in Leviticus and Deuteronomy can be pretty scary. Try reading “[Ken’s Guide to the Bible](https://www.amazon.com/Kens-Guide-Bible-Ken-Smith/dp/0922233179/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=ken%27s+guide+to+the+bible&qid=1549678061&sr=8-1)” sometime, it really boils it down. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/62 "2019-02-09T02:15:49Z")
Several times, for various reasons of academics and curiosity. It’s not the sole reason I’m an atheist, but it’s pretty much why I’m not a Christian. As I’ve said before – if you changed the setting and names enough that they weren’t obvious, nobody would ever take the “Lord” character for anything other than a villain based on the actual text, and many, many characters in the book wouldn’t be thought of in the same way as the pulpit suggests. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/63 "2019-02-09T04:34:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Saw this in another thread: > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by DrDeth > > Everyone, even those atheist and who have never touched a Bible understands what is meant by “A Good Samaritan”. It’s part of our culture. > > , and I was wondering if “People that are atheists because they never touched a Bible” is an actual thing, so I created this poll. This is the reason that I rarely venture into GD. I agree with the argument that the Kentucky law appears to be a pretense at allowing an openly religious class in school and probably an end run around the prohibition against displaying religious symbols in schools. I’m not impressed with **DrDeth** ’s arguments in the thread. However, the use of quotes around “People that are atheists because they never touched a Bible” is simply not justified. **DrDeth** did not say that nor did he imply that. Anyway. Growing up Mormon, I read parts of the Bible. Our main focus on the Book of Mormon and other modern revelations. We would read various stories and sections without reading it from cover to cover. Mormonism believes that modern prophet trump ancient ones so there was less urgency in studying the Bible for clues to God’s will. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/64 "2019-02-09T04:40:04Z")
I read somewhere the the bible should be republished as an old fashioned Ace double. One side would be, “War god of Isreal,” and the flip side would be, “The thing with three souls” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/65 "2019-02-09T04:43:54Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > When debating atheism on line in 1975 (on PLATO) I said that I’d read the Bible cover to cover and report if someone sent me one. Someone did, and I did. > > Reading the naughty parts not often mentioned by believers certainly helped me to reinforce my atheism. > There are many tropes known to the general public who have never read the original, like the good Samaritan story. How many who know “to be or not to be” have read Hamlet? [For the benefit of anyone who ISN’T familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan…](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OIVB3DdRgqU) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/66 "2019-02-09T05:40:47Z")
Skimmed it. I used to have a Bible where I’d highlighted various evil or contradictory passages that I’d happened upon. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > He certainly implied that an atheist would not know what a “good samaritan” was, were it not part of our culture. Hah, I’ve seen a priest complain about his parishioners not knowing what a “Good Samaritan” is. Oh, they know the parable but entirely miss the point, they just parrot it and think it was a story about how Samaritans were good people. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/67 "2019-02-09T08:23:51Z")
Always been an atheist and the skimming of the bible as a child never convinced me. A fuller reading later on revealed literature, poetry, wisdom and harmful bullshit in equal measures but nothing to suggest a divine or supernatural source. On the subject of the good Samaritan, it is always nice to point out to Christians that even Jesus is saying that Christianity is not needed to be a good person. Time for a [Mitchell and Webb sketch.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIVB3DdRgqU) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/68 "2019-02-09T08:49:03Z")
Thanks for sharing that. Your friend, Chopped Liver ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/69 "2019-02-09T10:15:59Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Thanks for sharing that. > > Your friend, > Chopped Liver Is that to me? If so, I don’t get the reference. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/70 "2019-02-09T14:07:47Z")
Wow, a lot of people are taking “reading the Bible” to mean a lot more than I thought it meant. I have read the Torah (5 books of Moses) several times. I’ve read several of the prophets, including all of the historical books that are called “prophets”. I read the New Testament from cover to cover when someone gave me one in college. I’ve read scatterings of other parts. Sure I’ve read the Bible. It’s not a novel that was designed to be read in order. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/71 "2019-02-09T14:35:21Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Wow, a lot of people are taking “reading the Bible” to mean a lot more than I thought it meant. I have read the Torah (5 books of Moses) several times. I’ve read several of the prophets, including all of the historical books that are called “prophets”. I read the New Testament from cover to cover when someone gave me one in college. I’ve read scatterings of other parts. Sure I’ve read the Bible. It’s not a novel that was designed to be read in order. You just hit on something interesting to me. There’s a difference to me between “read the Bible [present tense]” which means you regularly read part of it, and “have read the Bible,” which to me implies having read the whole thing at least once (though not necessarily in order). I’m not an atheist, but a few more options might have been nice for those who have read some full books, and for people who have read through more than half. For me as a Christian, there’s also “Have almost certainly read through the whole thing by now,” which includes intentionally reading parts that I know don’t come up much, like Job and Song of Solomon, or quickly reading through the lesser prophets. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/72 "2019-02-09T14:47:05Z")
I’m considering attempting to read the whole thing again. Here’s my strategy: Step 1: Pentateuch Step 2: ??? Step 3: Prophets! ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/73 "2019-02-09T14:48:51Z")
I’ve read only a few books of the Bible. Most of the well-known stories I picked up other ways, in many cases via Sunday School. Put me down as an “uninterested agnostic” — so uninterested that I’ve not Googled to see if there’s a word that describes my views slightly better than “agnostic.” > [@kayaker](#): > > I do know how to find Ezekiel 23:20, and usually underline or highlight that part in hotel bibles. Which version do the Gideon’s use? > [@](#): > > [King James] For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses. > > [Douay-Rheims] And she was mad with lust after lying with them whose flesh is as the flesh of asses: and whose issue as the issue of horses. Either way I don’t get it. Ezekiel 23 has verses that seem stranger and lewder than this one. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/74 "2019-02-09T15:01:01Z")
I’m your garden variety agnostic–Damned if I know how we got here and where we go when we die and doubly damned cause I do not care. But I have read the Bible, mostly so I can argue with the rah-rah’s (really religious) about the parts they don’t follow; i.e. why aren’t you out killing witches or Do you think women speaking in church are a disgrace? ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/75 "2019-02-09T15:14:40Z")
I’m studying it because I plan to go on Jeopardy Stupid Jeopardy. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/76 "2019-02-09T15:20:23Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I’m considering attempting to read the whole thing again. Here’s my strategy: > > Step 1: Pentateuch > > Step 2: ??? > > Step 3: Prophets! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/77 "2019-02-09T15:29:15Z")
I also consider myself agnostic and did not fully grasp from the wording of the poll nor the OP that only atheists were supposed to vote. I read the New Testament when I was in college. I was raised Southern Baptist and have read large parts of the Old Testament, but at that point in my life I didn’t consider it particularly relevant, since so much of what Jesus preached was variations of “the old covenant isn’t the deal any more.” ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/78 "2019-02-09T16:35:23Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I… > > I can recall the exact time I became convinced of the reason of atheism. Somewhere around 4th-6th grade in catechism class. I even recall the lay teacher’s name - Mrs Beers. One day she was going on about heaven and who gets to go, and it just struck me as ridiculous that millions/billions of fine upstanding Indians and Chinese couldn’t go to heaven, no matter how nice they were. The rest of the blocks soon fell as well. > > … I questioned that myself and it lead me away from christianity but not away from God. Also I found the answers to your questions in the bible among with other places (yes they go to ‘heaven’). The vary nature of the question infers that they too have a valid faith, as they too should be accepted into heaven. So why throw the baby out with the bathwater? That leap , rejecting God because you reject/find flaws with a religion, I never understood. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/79 "2019-02-09T16:39:11Z")
Also I didn’t vote because I am a theist but read the Bible several times, prayed for understanding, received revelation about it and God, saw the errors and reason for religion, saw a much more glorious and loving God in scriptures hidden in plain sight, never read it continuously Genesis to Revelation but chose/lead by God to books of the Bible which were often read in completion. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179/80 "2019-02-09T16:56:31Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I’m considering attempting to read the whole thing again. Here’s my strategy: > > Step 1: Pentateuch > > Step 2: ??? > > Step 3: Prophets! This works every time [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-and-biblical-familiarity/829179.md?page=5)