The good news about the Bible!

[Rum]

From the Beeb at:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26078614


Children and parents 'unaware of Bible stories'


Widespread ignorance exists among children and parents about the contents of the Bible, research has suggested.

Surveys for the Bible Society found almost three in 10 young people were unaware the story of the birth of Jesus came from the Bible.

A similar number of children had never read or heard about tales of the Crucifixion or Adam and Eve.

The report was based on a poll of 800 children aged eight to 15 and about 1,100 parents.

The study revealed a generation of children with little knowledge of the most important stories forming the basis of Christianity, and parents who often knew little more.

“Start Quote

Too few children have the opportunity to hear and reflect on what this life-changing book contains”

Dr Richard Chartres Bishop of London

Of the children who were questioned, more than a third failed to identify either the Good Samaritan or David and Goliath as Biblical stories.

Many of the parents who responded saw the Bible as a source of good values for their children.

But almost half did not recognise the story of Noah's Ark as coming from the Bible, and many confused Biblical stories with plotlines from well-known films such as Harry Potter.

The Bible Society commissioned the study as part of its Pass It On campaign to encourage parents to give the stories to their children.

The group said the findings were "symptomatic of the fact that many children indicate they have never read, seen or even heard these stories".
'Immense contribution'

In a foreword to the report, Bishop of London Dr Richard Chartres said sharing Bible stories "is as vital now as it has ever been".

"Too few children have the opportunity to hear and reflect on what this life-changing book contains," he said.

"Even those that do when they are young often take its awesome stories for granted when they become adults. There is work to be done."

James Catford, group chief executive of the Bible Society, said: "It's clear that parents want to give their children the best start in life.

"The Bible's contribution to our culture - language, literature, the visual arts and music - is immense. It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from.

"The Bible enriches life, and every child should have the opportunity to experience it."

[Hermit]

The more people actually studied the bible, the more they'd realise what a crock of nonsense Christianity really is.

[JimC]

Fade away...

[Svartalf]

The more people actually studied the bible, the more they'd realise what a crock of nonsense Christianity really is.

Yeah, I know... now, given how much of our culture at large is rooted in chretinity, I find that widespread ignorance to be distressing.

[Rum]

Why? I'm not familiar with the Egyptian Book of Ra. Hopefully the Bible will go the same way..

[Svartalf]

It's a key to a lot of our history, art and literature.
As a rule, ignorance is to be deplored. I loved reading the Enuma Elish and the Epic of Gilgamesh.

[Hermit]

Why? I'm not familiar with the Egyptian Book of Ra. Hopefully the Bible will go the same way..

Ancient Egyptian religion did not perish because people became increasingly ignorant of the Book of Ra. In pre-secular times religions were institutionally integrated with political powers. They rose and fell accordingly. This is no longer the case even though your queen is the titular head of the CoE. These days Christianity exists largely independent of political structures. It stands on what is vaguely perceived as its own merits. Maybe a familiarity with the bible text will enable people to realise that that perception is undeserved and thus accelerate the rejection of Christianity.

[Rum]

I do understand the argument - the Bible is at the heart of Western culture and history and knowledge of it - if only to see it for what it is - is probably a good thing. However by the same token it is still used 'actively' too to promote its religious nonsense and for that reason I would be happy to see it wither on the vine.

[Hermit]

the Bible ... is still used 'actively' too to promote its religious nonsense...

So true. That's why I used the word "study", and not in the sense that word is used in Sunday school either. Taught in a dispassionate manner to students aged 12 years onwards as part of a history, sociology, anthropology or some such course, bible study might quickly disabuse a lot of students who should by now be capable of at least a measure of independent thinking from regarding it with a reverend, uncritical acceptance that many of their ignorant parents retained. Unfortunately that's probably not politically acceptable because of those parents, though, which is the point at which the serpent bites its tail.

[Svartalf]

A good critical reading is enough to show how absurd it all is... the bible god is nasty, error prone, vindictive, and unworthy of worship, period.

[Thinking Aloud]

Offspring #1 (age 9) is aware of the Bible and some of its stories, because we've talked about them. On the way home from Cubs last night, where I think they'd been "Adam and Eve'd" by some religious lot, he said to Mrs TA that he'd been giving some thought to whole the A&E story for a while. He said that if the Tree of Knowledge only gave them the knowledge of good and evil, right and wrong, etc after they'd eaten the apple, how then could they have known it was wrong to eat it in the first place, even if Yo!Way! had said not to?

So yes - I don't have a problem with him reading the whole thing, if he wants to. I reckon the Norse Sagas will be more entertaining though.

[Clinton Huxley]

I don't mind the spawn knowing about it. Talking snakes, zombies, they'll come to realise that it's about as realistic as, say, The Jungle Book.

[Mysturji]

I agree with pretty much all of the above, but the fact is that many people - parents included - are simply too lazy and/or too ignorant to properly educate anyone (even themselves, let alone kids) about the true meaning and value of the holey babble.
So wouldn't it be easier for all concerned to just let it die quietly?

[Robert_S]

Now's the time for Hollywood to dig around in the OT and bring up a few ye olde blood, gore, sex, murder, war and genocide stories.

[Svartalf]

Gideon, a tale of genocide...