Atheists: Have you ever...?

Non-Christian/Non-Atheist.

Yeah I've read it. I I respect it for what it is - a religious document to be read within the socio-political historical context of when the various books were written & translated etc.

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"Given that it is the most read document in the history of the world"

That's a bald assertion. It's arguably the *most published* document in the history of the world. But that's something there's numbers for.

I've read much of the Bible. There are vast portions of it that do not actually have literary value.

Yep.

Did you miss that survey from last year that showed that atheists actually know more about various religions than the religious do?

Funny, there were many parts of it that were NEVER ever brought up in church. Ezekiel 23 comes to mind. So I wonder how many Christians have actually read all the Bible.

It's not the most read document in history, bank statements are. Money lenders at the temples would give out financial statements to what one owes and how much you borrowed, way before the bible, jesus, the wise men and any other religious mouth piece.

No, I honestly don't see the point. It's not going to reveal some sort of mystical knowledge to me, and the subject matter isn't that interesting.

Have you read the Epic of Gilgamesh? It's one of the oldest known written documents in the world.

Thrice over cover to cover and many more times in increments. I still have my childhood copy of the NIV and use it for reference.

For many years I attended church three times a week, went to VBS, went to bible study on Monday and had prayer meetings at my house every other Saturday. I was also ruling champion of my youth group's bible trivial league.

So much for the adage that I must be an atheist because I have no understanding of the bible or christianity, eh?

Yes.. Reading the bible and taking notes is one of the reasons I am an atheist...

for your argument to work the bible would have to be a book written by divine hand instead of flawed people, and just because they disagree with you doesn't mean there wrong. i think if your really Christan you'd accept them, like JESUS said "love your enemies, now im not saying you have to agree, but at least accept that they have the right to believe whatever they want.

I actually studied the Bible in a college comparative religion class, so yes.

Well, I skimmed over the "begats," as do most people. But other than that, I've read it more than once. I must say what Isaac Asimov said: "Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived."