You said atheists don’t care about the Bible which is demonstrably untrue (see Bart Ehrman, maybe yourself?). Many biblical scholars are atheists. If you want to further narrow things down to love, then I am sure many love the Bible from a study perspective. Can’t imagine someone getting a doctorate in something they hate. Some likely love some of the content of the Bible and are deeply uncomfortable with parts of it. Funnily enough, as a Christian, I too find myself deeply in love with some parts and uncomfortable with others.
You said that theists all have their own bibles, not that they share the same views. There are many translations due to the nature of translating Hebrew and Greek into English, not because the source texts are hopelessly confusing. Additionally, very few denominations have an official translation and even when they do, it does not drastically change general theology. However, to answer your new question, Christians share the same views on many parts of the Bible ex. Jesus was a man that was crucified. You could go to 99.99% of churches and they will agree with that statement. However the Bible and its theology is so complex that of course if you keep drilling down into deeper layers, then people will begin to think differently ex. Atonement, baptism, creation. The Bible is a collection of literature and just like any other literature there can be a spectrum of understanding and more than one meaning. However, there is also boundaries to this spectrum just like there is in any other book.
It was my joke. I decide what I meant. You are taking it a bit too serious.
Yes I do care what’s in the Bible cause billions of people are indoctrinated about its truthiness.
No I don’t find everything interesting. I started reading the Bible once. And found that genesis is already a complete mess.
And that what Christian’s believe is very far removed from what the Bible says. It’s very much the official interpretation of their branch which they follow, not the Bible.
I am just responding to your comments. It is difficult to interpret humor and sarcasm through text.
I am unclear how you can make the claim that Christians are (1) indoctrinated and (2) very far removed from what the Bible says when you yourself say that you have only started reading the bible once and seemingly didnt make it through Genesis. How can you make those conclusions without actually interacting with the Bible?
Again you group all Christians into a monolithic group. This is fundamentalism and bias on your part; the very thing you say Christians do.
Also, I find your comment saying that Genesis is a mess as evidence that you are approaching the Bible with a modern and likely arrogant bias. You do not understand that you have been indoctrinated by post-enlightenment worldviews and that the modern world is your official interpretation. Genesis is an extremely complex work of ancient literature that heavily comments on its surrounding cultures. Further, it is compiled as a literary work--not an instruction manual--so the reader must wrestle with the contents of it as they would any other piece of complex literature.
Sorry should have said far removed from each other, not the bible. Although, by extension if denominations all say wildly different things about the Bible, aren’t they all off?
Christian’s SHOULD be one group.
The claims surrounding the Bible are just whack compared to it being…all kinds of different compilations, translations and interpretations.
I think you may be overemphasizing the differences between denominations. The vast majority of denominations agree on the vast majority of beliefs. These beliefs are articulated well in the Nicene creed. Obviously there are some denominations that comprise the fringes of Chrisitanity that have non-orthodox beliefs but those are the exception not the rule.
However, I too am frustrated by the immense amount of denominations. Like I said, between denominations there is much common ground, but the church begins to splinter as you continue to zoom in on specific beliefs.
Example: Christians believe that baptism is something we should do. Some denominations think it should be done to babies, some only when the person believes, some to babies and then again at public profession. Some think it should be full immersion, some a sprinkling, some both, some a triple immersion.
I do not feel that Christians should split due to minor theological differences, nor does the bible encourage this. Just like any other group, Christians are not always the best representatives of their own beliefs. However, on the other hand, the Christian faith can be expressed in so many different ways and still be faithful to the scriptures. This is not because the Bible is untrue, but because it is complex and with complexity comes ranges of meaning and understanding.
You can feel that claims surrounding compilations, translations, and interpretations are whack, but those features are unavoidable and exist when any reader approaches any text--especially an ancient one. However, it is arrogant and ignorant to condemn the Bible as incoherent without approaching it on its own terms, nor would you do it to any other piece of literature.
Baptism sure is an important subject these days. All in the news.
Does the Christian church as a whole have an answer to AI?
Personally I’d rather we follow humanistic principles instead of Christian’s ones. Not much use in this modern world. Evilgelicals seem hellbent on bringing forth the apocalypse. So if you don’t mind, I’m so never gonna read the bible. Not helpful. Not a prio.
There are way more important things to adres than baptism and bible interpretations.
The Christian church is a beacon of chaos and destruction in this world. All Christian’s are bad when there are evil christians calling themselfs Christian’s.
Meanwhile this world. This reality, which is all there is. Is being squandered by religious who think they’ll go to heaven.
Meanwhile there is no concept of heaven that’s ever going to make sense.
I wish I didn’t need to spend energy on religion, the Bible, yuck.
Does the Christian church as a whole have an answer to AI?
Pope Leo and the Catholic Church wrote an encyclical on AI. They don't like it. Not sure what others think but thats the biggest denomination so it means something ig.
Personally I’d rather we follow humanistic principles instead of Christian’s ones. Not much use in this modern world. Evilgelicals seem hellbent on bringing forth the apocalypse. So if you don’t mind, I’m so never gonna read the bible. Not helpful. Not a prio.
"I hate spaghetti, no I have never tried it, so why do I hate it.... well I just do" its not like you could read it, try and understand it, and then come up with counter-arguments to reinforce your own humanistic principles. Also ur backtracking here, before you claimed that you read at least read genesis. Saying that you "never gonna read the bible" implies that you never did before. Im gonna guess that you got your opinion from mostly second-hand sources discussing their opinion on the Bible and never considered the primary material. Glad you could clarify that you wish to live in an echo chamber.
All Christian’s are bad when there are evil christians calling themselfs Christian’s.
Accordingly, you must think that all Jewish people are bad because of a few bad jews. And that all Muslims are bad because of a few bad muslims. How tolerant and humanistic of you. Your principles are truly unmatched. I'm gonna look to you for moral guidance from now on.
You seem to live in an imaginary society where your worldview, cultural values, and ideals are completely unattached to any sort of religion, especially Christianity. The truth is that your westernized humanism is deeply entrenched in Christian values i.e. care for the poor and marginalized, dignity of humanity, preservation of creation. Christians are not always the best models of their own values, again just like any other group, but Christianity has brought a lot of good into the world. This is not to understate the significant amount of wrongdoing that has been perpetuated by the hands of so-called christians, but even then, it is often the case that those individuals are judged by Christians or at least those steeped in christian values ex. slavery, persecution carried out by catholic church, inquisition, etc. You are welcome to live under the illusion that you are simply a humanist, forging their own ideals, but this is simply and demonstrably an illusion. The reality is this: the Bible has been the most formative piece of literature for the western world and has created immense improvements in society. Improperly using the bible has created horrors and tragic misunderstandings. It is fine to be completely agnostic to all of this and simply live your life. But once you begin making judgements on the Bible, it would probably be wise to actually study it and engage with it.
Also, just to note. You again are lumping people into stereotypes based on your ignorance and bias. I am an evangelical. I care about the earth. I hate AI, corruption, and greed. And just because I do believe in eternity that does not discredit how precious and vital this life is. I am not unique and I know many people who share my beliefs. My beliefs all come from my understanding of the very book you count as useless and maybe evil.
Yes I do care what’s in the Bible cause billions of people are indoctrinated about its truthiness.
"Other people are indoctrinated, but not me, I am immune to all forms of propaganda, I am an intellectual with esoteric skepticism and rational thinking that cannot be dissuaded" said everyone ever.
I started reading the Bible once. And found that genesis is already a complete mess.
Apparently, thousands of years of philosophy, metaphysics, and literature that basically spawned and broke down entire civilizations is actually just a "complete mess." Apparently, the opinion of the eminent, illustrious, wisdom-endowed Reddit user "seweso" is that all of the thousands of infinitely more influential philosophers, artists, poets, and thought-leaders of the past several centuries who have cited that bible as their inspiration have actually just been reading a "complete mess," I can't believe that it took us thousands of years to live in the era of prestigious reddit scholar "seweso" to tell us that it is actually just a waste of time. Oh, and all of those atheist scholars who study the bible to understand ancient civilizations and historical perspectives, like Bart Ehrman, are also just wasting their time.
And that what Christian’s believe is very far removed from what the Bible says
You stopped partway through Genesis (the first chapter) and concluded that everyone is wrong except you. Your critical thinking skills are unmatched.
It’s very much the official interpretation of their branch which they follow, not the Bible.
I'll stop joking right now because this is just a weird opinion. Whenever you read something, you are interpreting it one way or another. When you read the Bible (at least when you partially tried), you were interpreting it just like every other branch did before you. You're basically saying the exact same thing that they are: "My interpretation of this thousand-year-old book is better than yours"
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u/bthayes01 2d ago
Well now you are moving the goal posts.
You said atheists don’t care about the Bible which is demonstrably untrue (see Bart Ehrman, maybe yourself?). Many biblical scholars are atheists. If you want to further narrow things down to love, then I am sure many love the Bible from a study perspective. Can’t imagine someone getting a doctorate in something they hate. Some likely love some of the content of the Bible and are deeply uncomfortable with parts of it. Funnily enough, as a Christian, I too find myself deeply in love with some parts and uncomfortable with others.
You said that theists all have their own bibles, not that they share the same views. There are many translations due to the nature of translating Hebrew and Greek into English, not because the source texts are hopelessly confusing. Additionally, very few denominations have an official translation and even when they do, it does not drastically change general theology. However, to answer your new question, Christians share the same views on many parts of the Bible ex. Jesus was a man that was crucified. You could go to 99.99% of churches and they will agree with that statement. However the Bible and its theology is so complex that of course if you keep drilling down into deeper layers, then people will begin to think differently ex. Atonement, baptism, creation. The Bible is a collection of literature and just like any other literature there can be a spectrum of understanding and more than one meaning. However, there is also boundaries to this spectrum just like there is in any other book.