If you were raised as a Christian, but are currently agnostic...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my husband is more religious than I am so we go to Church (sporadically). I'm sure at some point I will more directly address my lack of belief but in the meantime I take the ministers tack of focusing on the parable.

That said my non-religious Dad got me a comic book version of the bible as a kid that I loved, so I got one for my kids and the 8 year old loved it. 6 year old hasn't read it yet but I hope she will when she's ready.

Bible stories are such a touchstone for so much of western literature that I felt it was important that my kids be familiar with them in order to catch the literary references.

Not true for anything after the XV century.

Maybe so, but a lot of worthwhile stuff happened before the XV century. The improtant thing to remember is that you can teach about the Bible, without teaching people to believe in the Bible. Think of it like Greek Mythology, or Aesop's fables -- useful, but not factual.

Great analogy. What we're doing now is precisely to read and discuss Aesop's fables

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When millions die because of Disney movies I will stop allowing those too. No brainier. Till then I have no problem with them, and will continue to avoid the bible.

I think this is a really unhealthy, bad attitude towards religion in general. And a real misread of history too! People never killed each other because they read the Bible and flew into a murderous rage as a result. People have killed each other over the millennia over money, and power. If you read about the history of medieval Europe you figure this out very quickly.

This is why people are freaking the crap out over Muslims- they're too lazy to actually look at the Quran and figure out what is going on for themselves.

I came from a very religious family and read the entire Bible from a very young age. I am continually amazed by just how little most people know about the Bible and about Christian history. This includes people who seem very "religious" and a lot of people on this forum. Reading the Bible (or the Quran or any other religious book) is not going to indoctrinate you against your will. Reading a text from a religious point of view versus a historical point of view is completely different.

Further, the Bible can be extremely fascinating to read. Beyond the "basic" stories that kids learn in Sunday school there are many interesting stories. There are so many idioms and cultural references in the English language that you just go "Oh wow there's that!" whenever you read the Bible. And there's a lot of beautiful poetry and generally wise advice.

JMHO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When millions die because of Disney movies I will stop allowing those too. No brainier. Till then I have no problem with them, and will continue to avoid the bible.

I think this is a really unhealthy, bad attitude towards religion in general. And a real misread of history too! People never killed each other because they read the Bible and flew into a murderous rage as a result. People have killed each other over the millennia over money, and power. If you read about the history of medieval Europe you figure this out very quickly.

This is why people are freaking the crap out over Muslims- they're too lazy to actually look at the Quran and figure out what is going on for themselves.

I came from a very religious family and read the entire Bible from a very young age. I am continually amazed by just how little most people know about the Bible and about Christian history. This includes people who seem very "religious" and a lot of people on this forum. Reading the Bible (or the Quran or any other religious book) is not going to indoctrinate you against your will. Reading a text from a religious point of view versus a historical point of view is completely different.

Further, the Bible can be extremely fascinating to read. Beyond the "basic" stories that kids learn in Sunday school there are many interesting stories. There are so many idioms and cultural references in the English language that you just go "Oh wow there's that!" whenever you read the Bible. And there's a lot of beautiful poetry and generally wise advice.

JMHO

Yes, there's lots of good stuff in the Bible (and bad stuff too) and lots that's good about religion ( and lots that's bad too) - so why give it such a lofty position? You can aprreciate it, without living by it, or otherwise giving it special privilege in your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When millions die because of Disney movies I will stop allowing those too. No brainier. Till then I have no problem with them, and will continue to avoid the bible.

I think this is a really unhealthy, bad attitude towards religion in general. And a real misread of history too! People never killed each other because they read the Bible and flew into a murderous rage as a result. People have killed each other over the millennia over money, and power. If you read about the history of medieval Europe you figure this out very quickly.

This is why people are freaking the crap out over Muslims- they're too lazy to actually look at the Quran and figure out what is going on for themselves.

I came from a very religious family and read the entire Bible from a very young age. I am continually amazed by just how little most people know about the Bible and about Christian history. This includes people who seem very "religious" and a lot of people on this forum. Reading the Bible (or the Quran or any other religious book) is not going to indoctrinate you against your will. Reading a text from a religious point of view versus a historical point of view is completely different.

Further, the Bible can be extremely fascinating to read. Beyond the "basic" stories that kids learn in Sunday school there are many interesting stories. There are so many idioms and cultural references in the English language that you just go "Oh wow there's that!" whenever you read the Bible. And there's a lot of beautiful poetry and generally wise advice.

JMHO

Yes, there's lots of good stuff in the Bible (and bad stuff too) and lots that's good about religion ( and lots that's bad too) - so why give it such a lofty position? You can aprreciate it, without living by it, or otherwise giving it special privilege in your life.

I don't know if this is a question or an agreement, but I will answer the potential question here- why give religion a "lofty position" in my life.

I am a very pragmatic person, so if something is not working, I discard it quickly and without drama. I genuinely feel that Christianity is adding to my life, not taking away. Even if God does not exist, there hasn't been a "loss" in my life due to faith.

I think that Christians have not lived up to Christianity's potential, because it includes a pretty radical ideology. People don't understand that (because they haven't read the Bible), so they see the problems with Christians and think that those people are representing what Christianity is. No. The Bible explains what Christianity is. Go ahead and read it.

[Anonymous]

I found a good book that gives highlights of major religions and shares some of the main tales.

The Bible is an important literary work. Basics of other religions are good to know as a global citizen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I found a good book that gives highlights of major religions and shares some of the main tales.

The Bible is an important literary work. Basics of other religions are good to know as a global citizen.

This one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0756617723/

Forgot we got this one too:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1465402500/

I've read them with my kids and bit and also let them explore too. Good conversation starters. Be prepared for tough questions. Many of our answers started "well some people do believe XYZ..."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found a good book that gives highlights of major religions and shares some of the main tales.

The Bible is an important literary work. Basics of other religions are good to know as a global citizen.

This one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0756617723/

Forgot we got this one too:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1465402500/

I've read them with my kids and bit and also let them explore too. Good conversation starters. Be prepared for tough questions. Many of our answers started "well some people do believe XYZ..."

But it's also important to read at least parts of the Bible. It's the difference between reading a wikipedia entry about a book and reading the book itself. One is a much more enriching experience than the other.

One of my life goals is to write a non-religious study guide to the Bible, that at least walks people through the most interesting parts but makes people actually read the text itself.

[Anonymous]

I'm an atheist, and DW is a lapsed Catholic. I took a "Bible as Literature" course in high school and have studied other religions as well as Christianity. I think that understanding has enriched my life, even though I don't believe in the applicable deities.

Our kids went to church-run pre-schools where they had weekly chapel, sang religious versions of kids songs, and did basic kid-level Christianity.

We have a lot of "Some people believe..." type conversations.

I read them Greek and Norse mythology as bedtime stories.

I agree with the posters who talk about the value of the Bible as a cultural touchstone. Understanding Christianity gives you insights into art, music, architecture as well as history and politics. Without understanding the Bible you miss a lot - including in literature produced after the XV century.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found a good book that gives highlights of major religions and shares some of the main tales.

The Bible is an important literary work. Basics of other religions are good to know as a global citizen.

This one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0756617723/

Forgot we got this one too:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1465402500/

I've read them with my kids and bit and also let them explore too. Good conversation starters. Be prepared for tough questions. Many of our answers started "well some people do believe XYZ..."

But it's also important to read at least parts of the Bible. It's the difference between reading a wikipedia entry about a book and reading the book itself. One is a much more enriching experience than the other.

One of my life goals is to write a non-religious study guide to the Bible, that at least walks people through the most interesting parts but makes people actually read the text itself.

Yes - the second book is a bible.

Your study guide sounds great. I'd use it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found a good book that gives highlights of major religions and shares some of the main tales.

The Bible is an important literary work. Basics of other religions are good to know as a global citizen.

This one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0756617723/

Forgot we got this one too:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1465402500/

I've read them with my kids and bit and also let them explore too. Good conversation starters. Be prepared for tough questions. Many of our answers started "well some people do believe XYZ..."

But it's also important to read at least parts of the Bible. It's the difference between reading a wikipedia entry about a book and reading the book itself. One is a much more enriching experience than the other.

One of my life goals is to write a non-religious study guide to the Bible, that at least walks people through the most interesting parts but makes people actually read the text itself.

Yes - the second book is a bible.

Your study guide sounds great. I'd use it.

^ But yes, it is a Wikipedia bible.

We also read mythology books from other cultures, like PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my husband is more religious than I am so we go to Church (sporadically). I'm sure at some point I will more directly address my lack of belief but in the meantime I take the ministers tack of focusing on the parable.

That said my non-religious Dad got me a comic book version of the bible as a kid that I loved, so I got one for my kids and the 8 year old loved it. 6 year old hasn't read it yet but I hope she will when she's ready.

Bible stories are such a touchstone for so much of western literature that I felt it was important that my kids be familiar with them in order to catch the literary references.

Not true for anything after the XV century.

Oh my. Even many modern novels and plays have religious references. The Narnia books and Lord of the Rings for starters... all the Jesus references in thinly veiled analogies like Uncle Tom's Cabin... So many more.