Can Atheists Accurately Discuss the Bible Without Having Read It?

No. That would be silly, just as silly as a theist assumption that they can discuss science, history, psychology, anthropology, or even comparative religion when the only book they have read is their unsupported claims they have termed the Bible.

Transition from Theism to Atheism

Many atheists were theists at some point in their life. Our journey into atheism is often closely tied to our experiences with religion. For instance, my transition occurred because of my previous religious beliefs. It was your holy books that taught me to be an atheist. I didn't become an atheist because I was corrupted by something else; I became an atheist because of my religious upbringing.

I speak from the perspective of having been immersed in the Bible, the book I was raised to live by. However, it was a complete fabrication, a lie. The same people who wrote the Bible didn't even know the Earth revolved around the Sun. The Catholic Church, centuries later, spent 200 years suppressing scientific truths that contradicted their interpretation of the Bible. It took them 200 years to recognize the truth and only after causing untold suffering and death.

So, let me be clear, I am fine without your religion. Thank you very much.

Knowledge of the Bible in Atheists vs. Theists

Experience shows that many atheists have a deeper understanding of the Bible than many theists. Many theists engage in discussions while having only read a fraction of the text and relying solely on teachings from authorities rather than reading the Bible themselves.

One of my conversations with a Jewish friend who is also a Christian revealed their startling lack of knowledge. Many of them had only read a few chapters or had learned the Bible secondhand from pastors or rabbis. I, on the other hand, have read the entire Hebrew Bible and the New Testament on my own.

Sampling the Bible: Discrepancies

Let’s dive deeper into a few discrepancies in the Bible. Focusing on the resurrection, we find several inconsistencies:

Who first approached the empty tomb: Matthew 28:1 - Mary Magdalene and the other Mary Mark 16:1 - Mary Magdalene the other Mary and Salome Mark 16:1 - Mary Magdalene the other Mary Joanna and other women John 20:1 - Mary Magdalene alone Who did they first see at the tomb: Matthew 28:2 - One angel outside the tomb Mark 16:5 - One man inside the tomb Luke 24:4 - Two men inside the tomb John 20:1 - No one at all Who first told Mary about the resurrection: Matthew 28:5-6 - An angel Mark 16:6 - A man Luke 24:5-6 - Two men John 20:14-17 - Jesus himself To whom did Jesus first appear: Matthew 28:8-9 - To a joyous Mary on the road John 20:14-17 - To a grief-stricken Mary in the tomb What did the women do when hearing that Jesus had risen: Matthew 28:8 - Rushed to tell the disciples Luke 24:9 - Kept the news to themselves Mark 16:8 - Kept the news to themselves Where did Jesus first reveal himself to his eleven disciples: Matthew 28:16-17 - In the Galilee Luke 24:33-36 - In Jerusalem John 20:10-24 - To 10 of his disciples

These discrepancies illustrate the human influence and manipulation of the text, leading to a fragmented and inconsistent narrative. Each account varies depending on the author's perspective and interpolations throughout history.

Conclusion

No one can sensibly discuss the contents of any book unless they have read it. Many atheists are better informed about the Bible than the theists they debate. Reading the Bible cover-to-cover is crucial to understanding its contents accurately, as illustrated by the numerous discrepancies and variations in the resurrection stories.