# Why Do Atheists Interpret the Bible Hyper-Literally **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 24, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842 "2010-09-24T02:57:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/301 "2010-10-09T19:18:35Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Bottom line: If a deity REALLY wrote this, inspired this, directed this, why can’t it be clearer? A decent deity wouldn’t write or inspire a book that requires constant debate over centuries. It would be clear. Period. > > And you know this how? > > The book itself doesn’t require constant debate over centuries. Many people choose to debate it for the sheer hell of it. For the most part atheists are “preaching to the choir” when they ridicule the Bible for all of its contradictions. Even in America, fundamentalist Christians are out-numbered by mainstream Christians. And mainstream Christians don’t seem to have that much problem in accepting non-literal interpretations. Well, of course xtians don’t have a problem accepting non-literal translations. If you told xtians that the Hokey Pokey was required to get to heaven, the devout ones would be doing it at their desks. 😃 The non-literal translations people get from various teachers, priests, reverends satisfies them enough to keep their own personal faith in the type of god/Jesus they prefer. Oh, and to keep giving money in the collection plate too. Example: I asked the nuns at catholic school as a kid was it two of each animal or seven of every clean animal? Why did god change the rules? One said it’s a translation error. Number two told me not to question the lord’s ways. I can’t possibly understand them. Non-literal translations like these are simply lies to prolong a snake oil business. Reading the bible cover to cover once and watching what churches do and what ministers say leads to seeing it’s all bunk. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/302 "2010-10-10T02:55:12Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > _The Naked Archaeologist_ is complete crap. The host of the show is not an archaeologist, but a Canadian filmmaker (the same one who made the _Jesus Tomb_ documentary). He is extremely inaccurate factually and basically tries to argue for Bible historicity where there isn’t any. He is fundamentally dishonest in what he presents and is not remotely credentialed in archaeology or history. He tries to argue for things like Mosaic authorship for the Torah. He is not anybody you want to look for for reliable information. > > No offense intended here. He is very intelligent and skilled at what he does. He does not come across as an obvious fraud or crackpot and he knows how to make himself sound plausible. To people who don’t aren’t familar with the material he covers, he can seem persuasive and reasonable, but he is very selective and deceptive in how he does it. Know that what he is presenting is often at complete odds with real scholarship and evidence. Really? That’s a shame – I like that show. (And I knew he was a filmmaker, not an archaeologist) Oh well. I’m not a Biblical scholar. ---
**Author:** ![psikeyhackr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/97f17d/32.png) [@psikeyhackr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psikeyhackr)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/303 "2010-10-10T15:48:40Z")
The objective of most people that engage in debates is not to solve a problem it is to WIN. By whatever their definition of winning is. It usually degenerates into an EGO GAME and the objective is to make the opponent look STUPID. For many that is WINNING. Very often they don’t notice that they make themselves look stupid but I suppose only the people that figure out the nonsense notice that. A lot of atheist seem to assume that if someone is not an atheist then they are not intelligent. The agnostics are gutless fence sitters. 😃 psik ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/304 "2010-10-10T21:18:00Z")
> [@psikeyhackr](#): > > The objective of most people that engage in debates is not to solve a problem it is to WIN. > > By whatever their definition of winning is. It usually degenerates into an EGO GAME and the objective is to make the opponent look STUPID. For many that is WINNING. > > Very often they don’t notice that they make themselves look stupid but I suppose only the people that figure out the nonsense notice that. A lot of atheist seem to assume that if someone is not an atheist then they are not intelligent. The agnostics are gutless fence sitters. 😃 > > psik Is this another variation of the old “you have to respect my opinion” argument? Some ideas, and some people ARE stupid. Quite often, hard as it is to imagine, stupid people will have stupid ideas. What is the problem of pointing that out, if it applies? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/305 "2010-10-10T21:56:52Z")
> [@psikeyhackr](#): > > The objective of most people that engage in debates is not to solve a problem it is to WIN. > > By whatever their definition of winning is. It usually degenerates into an EGO GAME and the objective is to make the opponent look STUPID. For many that is WINNING. > > Very often they don’t notice that they make themselves look stupid but I suppose only the people that figure out the nonsense notice that. A lot of atheist seem to assume that if someone is not an atheist then they are not intelligent. The agnostics are gutless fence sitters. 😃 > > psik SOME people think CAPITAL LETTERS make their ARGUMENTS more MEANINGFUL! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/306 "2010-10-11T03:31:31Z")
Double post ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/307 "2010-10-11T03:33:07Z")
> [@boyo jim](#): > > some people think capital letters make their arguments more meaningful! you mean they’re not??? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/308 "2010-10-11T03:40:32Z")
More IMPORTANT, YES but NOT more MEANINGFUL!! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/309 "2010-10-11T04:01:23Z")
SAYS YOU!!! (Dammit, what the FUCK???) ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/310 "2010-10-11T04:02:52Z")
caPitaL leTtErs IS seRioUs bIznIz ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/311 "2010-10-11T04:06:13Z")
> [@guinastasia](#): > > says you!!! > > (dammit, what the fuck???) Someone had found a way to use code to get around the Dope’s hatred of all caps but I forgot what that method entailed. Using uncapitalized font/size code doesn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/312 "2010-10-11T04:08:51Z")
The secret is to not make ALL of the letters CAPS, only the IMPORTANT ones. ---
**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:** [October 11, 2010, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/313 "2010-10-11T06:12:52Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > > [@guinastasia](#): > > > > says you!!! > > > > (dammit, what the fuck???) > > Someone had found a way to use code to get around the Dope’s hatred of all caps but I forgot what that method entailed. Using uncapitalized font/size code doesn’t work. PUT IN SOME LOWER CASE LETTERS COLORED WHITE SO THEY BLEND IN. Like this. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/314 "2010-10-11T08:59:46Z")
> [@psikeyhackr](#): > > The objective of most people that engage in debates is not to solve a problem it is to WIN. > > By whatever their definition of winning is. It usually degenerates into an EGO GAME and the objective is to make the opponent look STUPID. For many that is WINNING. > > Very often they don’t notice that they make themselves look stupid but I suppose only the people that figure out the nonsense notice that. A lot of atheist seem to assume that if someone is not an atheist then they are not intelligent. The agnostics are gutless fence sitters. 😃 > > psik Yeah, I’m with the others; the caps are not working for you. As an atheist, I’m willing to concede that belief in a supernatural being doesn’t necessarily make one stupid, but I am truly curious what causes someone to believe in something, and be willing to die and kill, for which there is absolutely no proof. I can understand children being impressionistic sponges but, it seems to me, as we reach adulthood, empiricism and the scientific method of duplicability, even in the most basic of processes, become necessary components in understanding the world and how and why things function the way they do, if only to better one’s chances at having a decent life. Gods are not necessary to understand our world or for it to function. Now, again, I’m willing to concede that, at some point in the last 2000 to 10000 years, it was necessary, probably as a natural consequence of humanity’s sentience and evolving inquisitiveness, for a supernatural being to be an easily understandable solution to the big unknowables of the day. So I understand why we created gods, including the Abrahamic God. But why, when the questions are answered, and the proof provided, and the scientific method rigorously applied to form theories without which subsequent scientific advances would not be possible, do we find it acceptable to continue to lend credence to the illogical (to me) notion that because a book of dubious origin, laden with contradiction, subject to wild and disparate interpretations, even by adherents, and again, backed by no evidence whatsoever, recommends fealty to its words, it should be not only taken seriously, but revered and given equal weight to facts that completely discredit its assertions? When I was a churchgoer as a kid, I read and memorized so much of the bible it was coming out of my ears, but I’ve forgotten a lot of it. To me, it is convenient, yet somehow understandable, for theists to question why atheists interpret the bible so literally. We really don’t, at least I don’t. However, it is so easy to use the words of the bible against itself that it is not necessary to remember or even to have read much of its minutae because the big proposals are what theists and atheists alike usually discuss and debate, so it only seems that every single assertion is countered and scrutinized. The other thing, of course, is theists hate for their faith to be questioned and consider it an attack, so there is an element of hypersensitivity. I do admit, however, that at times it can be confrontation for confrontation’s sake, but sometimes it’s simply a query or, as is usual in my case, incredulity in the form of a question. Not to single them out necessarily as my view is all theistic belief is not only dangerous but inherently destructive, but to focus on what I grew up with, contemporary Christians, especially the American variety, scare me. There seems to be a growing push toward appending, or prepending, the word ‘science’ to Christianity-focused assertions when absolutely no science was performed from which the opinion was developed, while at the same time dismissing and mocking true science, and eschewing real facts and evidence. It seems to me that an increasing number of American Christians are dismissive of education, especially the sciences, for their children. I can’t find the site at the moment, but I read somewhere online that the number of children being home-schooled is also increasing and that a large percentage (I don’t remember the number) of these children are from religious, Christian households. I have to say it alarmed me as I believe we’re heading, even if only slightly, to a day when a lower number of American adults will be prepared for dealing with the rest of the world. At some point, probably (I’m hopful) in the not too near future, America will be no longer able to compete intellectually with citizens of other first-world countries and, I’m sorry, but all this blind allegiance to hard-line Christianity will be at least part of the reason. ETA: Hmm, I strayed way off topic in that last paragraph, didn’t I? Sorry about that. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/315 "2010-10-11T09:22:34Z")
Too late to edit my post above, but in the first line of the third paragraph, I meant impressionable, not impressionistic. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/316 "2010-10-11T12:31:49Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > Yeah, I’m with the others; the caps are not working for you. > > As an atheist, I’m willing to concede that belief in a supernatural being doesn’t necessarily make one stupid, but I am truly curious what causes someone to believe in something, and be willing to die and kill, for which there is absolutely no proof. > > I can understand children being impressionistic sponges but, it seems to me, as we reach adulthood, empiricism and the scientific method of duplicability, even in the most basic of processes, become necessary components in understanding the world and how and why things function the way they do, if only to better one’s chances at having a decent life. Essentially, a universe with no magic sucks. It’s a hard thing to swallow. People need to feel like there’s some sort of fundamental entity in control of it all, that things don’t happen for no reason, that there’s a greater plan, and that you don’t really truly die. I don’t think the primary factor in coming to realize this is necesarily intelligence but an intellectual commitment to rationality. You can have brilliant people who decide to just buy into it - it’s really a philosophical position and a commitment to reality and honesty. Well written post, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/317 "2010-10-11T23:10:27Z")
Yeah I get that Science in some peoples’ eyes can and will explain everything but there is a large majority who just don’t see the world that way. I prefer the terms beauty and wonder to magic. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/318 "2010-10-11T23:45:26Z")
> [@psikeyhackr](#): > > The agnostics are gutless fence sitters. 😃 Not even fence sitters. They’re stealth theists. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/319 "2010-10-11T23:49:21Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > Yeah I get that Science in some peoples’ eyes can and will explain everything but there is a large majority who just don’t see the world that way. It’s not that science can explain _everything_, but that religion can’t explain _anything_. > [@](#): > > _I prefer the terms beauty and wonder to magic._ The beauty and wonder of theology is a pale candle compared to the glory of the universe around us. Open your eyes, my friend. You’re missing something _wonderful_. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842/320 "2010-10-11T23:58:46Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > The beauty and wonder of theology is a pale candle compared to the glory of the universe around us. Open your eyes, my friend. You’re missing something _wonderful_. I agree, the universe is a wonderful and just possibly a magic place as well.🙂 Theology will always lack as it is written by man. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-atheists-interpret-the-bible-hyper-literally/554842.md?page=17)