Have you read the Bible?

[Rincewind]

Used to be, and have only read bits - I found it to be hard work!

 

[Rincewind]

Extensively.

Went through a period where my family and my congregation gave me a different translation for occasion presents; I have read the entirety of the text all the way through approximately 30 times.

Went through another period where I was a practicing member of a sect that rotated through the text on a regular basis, in the function of the ordinary year.

Which does not include the time I have spent studying and translating the text.

Yes, I have read it.

You poor thing - perhaps you need a lie down...

 

[Agatha]

Several times: KJV, Jerusalem, Good News and NIV. Only in English though. I am a lifelong atheist but the Bible is important literature, so I have read it. I still refer to it (though more often online now) especially if someone is quoting it to further their POV in a religious discussion on here.

 

[Slowvehicle]

You poor thing - perhaps you need a lie down...

 

[marplots]

I've also read War and Peace. I used to read a lot.

 

[Cayvmann]

Read it several times, different versions too. Did not find it compelling, so I gave it up. I found more morality and life lessons in Stephen King's works.

 

[Bikewer]

I admit to reading only the bits that come up in various discussions. I have likely read more bible-criticism than the thing itsef.

 

[turingtest]

Was nominally a Christian as a child (Catholic altar boy, in fact), which is to say that I not only took for granted what I was told to believe, but that I believed it. By the age of about fourteen or so, I realized the difference.

And I've always loved to read; but I was never able to get through the whole Bible, just enough to know that it wasn't going to change what I took for granted into what I could believe. And, as Cayvmann says, there's at least as much to be learned about life from Stephen King novels as the Bible; not to mention the difference in readability.

 

[Foster Zygote]

I was a Christian, and in an attempt to put to rest the doubts I was having, I read it in whole, twice. Reading it was a major factor in my no longer being a Christian.

 

[ctamblyn]

I read it from beginning to end (including the dull bits) when I was very young (<12 years old) and still a Christian. I've re-read several parts since then, since it's an interesting collection of works (to me at least).

As far as I know, it didn't have any influence on me losing my faith (Bertrand Russell probably had more to do with that, but no single factor was decisive). However, it did lead my much younger self to believe that a lot of people I knew who described themselves as Christians didn't really follow the teachings of Christ as presented in the NT.

 

[progressquest]

Raised Mormon and read the Bible front to back once (even read most of the begats), and studied several key passages many times. Also read Book of Mormon several times.

It was this forum (well the JREF, anyway) that helped cure me of all that.

 

[Hellbound]

Was a Christian. Reading the bible in it's entirety, as part of a year-long college level study course at a Christian university, is pretty much what cemented my atheism.

I think you missed an opportunity in your poll, while we're on the subject. I think it would have been more useful/informative to split the options:

1. I am a Christian and have read the Bible
2. I was a Christian and have read the Bible
etc.

 

[Belz...]

Well, have you?

Too violent. I watch 80s action movies, instead.

 

[NotJesus]

While I believe that, taken all together, I probably did real the entirety of the Bible at some point, I never read it cover-to-cover in one sitting...

You'd have to be a hell of a speed reader to manage that.

 

[John Jones]

I was a christian and read the bible. I grew up in the Bible Belt, so it was kind of expected.

 

[Hellbound]

I was a christian and read the bible. I grew up in the Bible Belt, so it was kind of expected.

I agree it's expected, but you might be suprised at how few people actually have done it (rather than just claiming they have, or believing they've gotten all of it in bits and pieces).

 

[Emily's Cat]

I've *tried* to read it several times... but I have never managed to make it even through Exodus. It's just not a very engaging book. I've read or heard some of the major stories a few times though.

 

[The Shrike]

Read it; former Christian (Catholic), including 12 years of Catholic school; 8 years altar boy. Bible discussions are interesting because we were taught that the so-called Word of God in the Bible was always meant to be interpreted symbolically. (Hint 1 - talking snake in chapter 1.) Catholics really don't understand literal interpretations* of the Bible - fundamentalists befuddle us.

*MASSIVE contradiction surrounding "This IS my body" notwithstanding.

Anyway, no better way to make a former Christian than to have him/her read the bible.

(Also read the Koran and the Book of Mormon and have my own copies. They're bollocks too if anyone is wondering.)

 

[jhunter1163]

I once sat down to read the whole thing, in my early 20s. I got as far as the "golden hemorrhoid" bit in I Samuel. I could never take it, or any religious person, seriously again. Even now, though I go to Mass regularly to appease Mrs. JHunter1163 (who is a cradle Catholic), in the back of my mind I'm thinking "Golden hemorrhoids?"

 

[Tiktaalik]

Never Christian although Mom was Unitarian (Dad's family are non-observant Jews). Read the Old Testament about 15 times and the New Testament about 5 times. I usually keep it in my bathroom and when I have a moment/movement, I read a verse or two.