Atheists use a popular Bible app to evangelize about unbelief

[rug]

Kimberly Winston | Nov 5, 2013

(RNS) Like lots of college students, Lauren has a smartphone loaded with some of the most popular apps around — Facebook, Twitter and eBay. And like a lot of unbelievers, she asked to not use her full name because her family doesn’t know about her closet atheism.

One of the apps she uses most regularly is YouVersion, a free Bible app that puts a library’s worth of translations — more than 700 — in the palm of her hand. Close to 115 million people have downloaded YouVersion, making it among the most popular apps of all time.

But Lauren, a 22-year-old chemistry major from Colorado, is not interested in the app’s mission to deepen faith and biblical literacy. A newly minted atheist, she uses her YouVersion Bible app to try to persuade people away from the Christianity she grew up in.

“I know of a lot of atheists who have come to their nonbelief by actually reading the Bible rather than just the fluffy stories they choose to tell you about in church,” she said. “Reading the full story with all its contradictions and violence and sexism, it should make you think, ‘Is this really what I believe in?’ At least it did for me.”

http://www.religionnews.com/2013/11/05/atheists-use-popular-bible-app-evangelize-unbelief/

Download here:

https://www.bible.com/

[JNelson6563]

1. Smart girl!

That's what did it for me. Read that bible and was horrified that anyone considered it enlightened.

There's currently some Christian group buying lots of radio air time around here. They urge people to read the bible. Whenever I hear it I smile and think yes, DO read your bible! Stop waving the damn thing around and read it!

Julie--who knows the bible better than many believers

[rug]

2. I always liked the story of Thomas.

John 20:24-29. Especially line 25.

[JNelson6563]

6. Why? Do you doubt?

I find Paul's letters to be more entertaining and educational. He was the first Christian snake-oil salesman. His pandering for money in some of his writings are textbook examples! Helpful reference for political fundraising, I daresay!

Julie--who knows a thing or two about political fundraising

[rug]

7. At the core of faith is doubt.

Thomas' initial response was eminently reasonable. As was his later response, assuming it happened. It sums up religion in 6 lines.

Paul is a convenient bogeyman but it's usually a caricature being poked.

[JNelson6563]

12. Well actually

the low hanging fruit is in the OT (but you probably actually know that). If you think Paul's convenient...

I do wish I still had the time and inclination to dance with you on the topic Rug, as I think we could spar respectfully and with some humor. But, alas, I have seen and been an actor in this show enough times to not want to use what little recreational time I have on it.

I'm sure from time to time, we can fit in a quick dance though.

Cheers,
Julie

[rug]

13. In that case, I'll leave you with a dervish.

[MineralMan]

3. I use a similar website to access translation versions

for comparison. But, I don't use it to troll believers as an atheist. Instead, I use it to make sure what I'm quoting is accurately quoted and to see how different translations handle a particular passage.

[rug]

4. Me too. I usually use Biblegateway.com.

I had to track down where that unicorn nonsense came from.

[MineralMan]

5. That's the site I use, too.

It's always interesting to see how the translations differ for individual passages.

[cbayer]

9. I was also curious about the unicorn reference. What did you find out?

[rug]

10. It was translated that way in the King James Version.

I think the original was goat but I'd have to look it up again.

On edit: the word was ox or buffalo. (One translated it as rhinoceros).

King James:

http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=unicorn&qs_version=KJV

Other versions:

http://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Numbers%2023:22

[cbayer]

11. Hah! That's a new one to me.

Thanks for the info.

[cbayer]

8. Wow. Bible thumping atheists? Now there's an ironic concept.

OTOH, if both believers and non-believers at the college level are using the actual text(s) to engage in spirited debate, that's pretty cool.

I am sure there is an opportunity for those one both sides to learn something.

There is no question that the bible is full of contradictions and, depending on context, some can be read as pretty hateful stuff.

But there are also fascinating and profound stories, some beautiful poetry and areas that can provide guidance.

This whole meme that reading the bible is sure to make one an atheist is bunk, imo. It can be used to support belief or lack of belief. It just depends what you are looking for.