If you're a Christian, do you feel bad for not reading the Bible?

Why?

answering to your "why?", it's gona be straight.

you must ask yourself these questions:

1)is reading bible just the same as reading a story book? what benefit does it reap? if you read with a purpose (eg reading a self-improvement book), then you're probably on track

2)the "truth" mentioned by josechukkiri is ultimately what the content of the bible should be inculcated in you. do you still see yourself as a christian if you don't follow what it says? (eg the Ten Commandments)

look, there are reasons why people call themselves buddhists, or indians or a white or a black... it is what they believe they are and what they believe the others believe what are...

Iam not a christian and donot know what is in the holy book Bible but it's very important that every person has to read and understand one's religious texts. Bible or Kuran or Bhagawad gita or any religious books are meant to know what we are, what is our purpose,what we have to do for the better of society. One can clearly see a lot of goodness in a person who reads his/her religious texts. I wish everyone read religious books and become good people.That way we can live in more harmony and peace.

Well stated sunilkonda.

Well said, sunilkonda! If we read a religious book and don't practice loving our fellowman as we do ourselves, then what is the point? I see many people claim this or that religion but their actions are worse then those who claim no religion. Something is wrong. We should be at least as good, if not better than those who claim no religion. Believing in God should make us better people not worse people.

I agree 1hopefulman.
To be honest, I rather admire an atheist who is a good person and lives a good life than a self-proclaiming believer who are living his/her life in hypocrisy.

i disagree with you. how could you learn things which are related to religion and faith. you should read the bible to learn, understand what is the meaning of life and to strengthen your faith. but it is your opinion so i should respect it.

There are lots of people out there who never had the chance to read the bible, still they know God.

If you're a REAL CHRISTIAN, you should realize one thing, IF CHRIST lives in you he'll definitely urge you to read the BIBLE. Why? Because it's the ONLY MAP we have in this world that can lead us to the RIGHT PATH and finally go into GLORY (HEAVEN). Why call yourself a CHRISTIAN when you don't read the BIBLE and Pray. God speaks to you THROUGH BIBLE. BIBLE is HIS MESSAGE TO YOU. You speak to GOD through PRAYER. Jesus says in JOhn 8:31-32 [If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples] So judge yourself. How are you going to learn to Love God when you don't READ HIS WORD. Infact, Faith comes by Hearing the WORD of God and READING It. I read the BIBLE daily and never missed it. Can't you live without EATING? Your soul CAN'T LIVE without THE WORD(BIBLE). LIFE and DEATH of your sould is in Your hand. God Bless You. AMEN to josechukkiri.

For those who never had the chance to read the word, God himself shall give his abundantly grace upon them. But Those who have the chance and Waste it will receive greater punishment from the LORD. It is the Gift of God for us, Don't Neglect It.

And Amen to you as well carolinemys.

I totally agree with you carolina, very well said!

Same here.

Reading the Bible is as good as you eat. it will give nourishment to your Soul. Its also our way of talking to God just like the way you read you text messages and e-mails..BORING? true if you are not a believer, but if you are then you will not get bored reading it, in fact it is very helpful--have you notice that in times of trouble- its HIM your crying to call for? Try to read and you'll know the answer..bless you all

Very nice summersatine.

The bible teaches us how to live long and healthy life thru its verses.

The food forbidden in the bible prevents long term deseases. I was shock to know that pigs virtually eat anything. as i study history and the relation of architecture to it, i found out that in the old toiles, the pig was responsible for its maintenance and to think that the pigs didn't refuse eating human feces say a lot. Although now, some pork came from farms which feed pigs edible stuffs, there are still who feed them with yucky stuff. I think let' avoid cheap porks to be sure of. I our country, there are news of people being confined to the hospital because of eating shellfishes contaminated with red tide. I think the lord spare the Jews this sickness by commanding them not to eat shellfishes. Another thing not allowed in the bible is not to mix dairy with the meats. I think God wants us to avoid having circulatory problems. I mean the fat from meat have so many cholesterol and that the dairy too which came from animals have high cholesterol levels. Maybe we should endulge on one in an event and another on another date. The bible teaches us to be clean and that is another way of prolonging our lives. Sodom and Gomora was destroyed by the lord because of dirty sexual practises and I think that this too preserves life for the lord dont want us to do such things.

WOW! Thanks for all this information. It's quite interesting to know all these things.

It's nice to know that you attend bible meetings. Although personally, I prefer to read the Bible by myself. I don't know why.

of course its absolutely delightful when we read it alone, by ourselves....

Do you do it sometimes?

Well, of course not just sometimes, but often, as i mentioned. But i sometimes, skip it off due to being so busy....

Well that's a good thing! You still find time to read it amidst your busy schedule. Keep it up.

And why is it not interesting to you?

i just could never get into it. ilove to read & have tried reading it but the interest just wsn't there.

I see. Well I respect you if that's your opinion regarding this book.

ANTIQUELADY, some have started reading the "New Testament" first and have found that that has helped them get into the good habit of reading it.

What about you 1hopefulman, where did you start first?

thanks for the tip.

Make it happen.

thanks

Welcome ipodtouch27.

no, i don't. i lead a christain life so that to me is the main thing.

How?

how what???

How or in what ways you lead a Christian life?

Antiquelady,we cannot proclaim ourselves as Christians if we do not read the bible.It is a requirement for a believer to study the bible.Try attending a bible study.Remember,faith cometh by hearing,hearing the word of God.Maybe this will solve your problem of being bored reading the bible.

Well, she already read it I guess. Due to the fact that she became bored, only means that she have read it already.
But I think you're right somehow.

I didn't say that it's an unchristian act if you don't read the Bible. I agree there's no such rule that a Christian should read it, and I don't think there should be one. People, believers or atheists, is entitled to their own choice on what to read. The purpose of this discussion is to know the opinions of other Christians regarding this book and their reason(s) for not reading it. That's all.

It's good to know that you're not just reading it, but also practicing the good messages in real life. Keep it up.

That sounds interesting. Tell me more about it.

Zen is a huge subject and there are hundred of books written about it. A Zen practitioner actually learns more from the practice of Zen than the explanation. However, I have more information on my webpage here -
http://ayrehypnotherapy.com/whyzen - There is also a link on there to my Zen blog..:-)

Thanks for the link. I'll check it out later.

Good point! That's what I'm trying to say. All it takes for the bible to be appreciated is to dedicate yourself in understanding its messages.

sutanhartanto, If we read Genesis 1:1, it doesn't say that the universe was created in 6 days. Simply that universe had a beginning and was created by God. Astronomer Robert Jastrow, an agnostic in religious matters, wrote in "God and the Astronomers": "The details differ, but the essential elements in the astronomical and biblical accounts of Genesis are the same: the chain of events leading to man commenced suddenly and sharply at a definite moment in time, in a flash of light and energy."

The six days had to do with the preparation of the earth. But how long is a Genesis day? A study of the Hebrew word yohm (day) shows that it means a period of time which could allow a "day" to be thousands of years long. As far as I can see, there are no contradictions between proven Science and the Bible.

Where did you get that information regarding the Hebrew word?
Pls. provide a link.
I love to learn more.

good points, hope. that's what i mean that we are not enough to just read the bible and interpret it literally, but we have to try to understand what the true meaning of the words is. (because there are some people that really believe that this early universe - till the first man was created - was created in six days - our days). if it is needed, we should occupy science and other advanced and later philosophy or whatever to try to understand what the bible said. in this regard, being narrow-minded and deny other proposed opinion and interpretation about the bible will not work.

well, regarding your statement that there is no contradictions between proven science and the bible, let us see:

genesis 1:1 At the first God made the heaven and the earth. - this was the first day.
i don't know what 'the heaven' means, but we exactly know what the earth is.

then,

genesis 1:16 And God made the two great lights: the greater light to be the ruler of the day, and the smaller light to be the ruler of the night: and he made the stars. - this was the fourth day.
it is obvious that 'the greater light' is the sun, 'the smaller light' is the moon, and the stars is the existing stars in those days.

as the bible was written chronologically, and there is no flashback like in the modern fiction, i believe that what is written later is believed by the writer as what happened later. moreover, there is a time adverb: first day and fourth day.

so, according to the bible, the chronology of creation of this universe is:
1. 'heaven' and earth,
2. grass, plants producing seed, and fruit-trees giving fruit, in which is their seed, (genesis 1:11)
3. the sun, the moon and the other stars

that shows a little bit contradiction with the scientifically proven facts, the the sun and the some other stars came earlier than the earth.

well, i won't judge the bible having invalid data or resources. the point is that the bible is not a scientific work. instead, it's more like a philosophical, or even devotional work. the bible and science are different matters. the 'facts' in the bible is not real or at least accurate facts. they are fabricated facts (not in the negative meaning), written for devotional purposes. so, it is not proper to impose the 'facts' in the bible as the real facts (by saying that those are the words of god and must be true) to the people who don't believe it, and condemn the others who try to propose scientific facts which are contradictory to those facts in the bible.

Hypocrites in what way?
And tell me more about catechist?

you don't know catechist? ok, religion teacher. and hypocrite because they kept on praising God, reading the bible everyday, attending seminars and bible studies, out reach programs and many others, but they were also the one to start a gossip around their community and i have proven that because i was a very active youth and also was a choir coordinator so i spent most of time in the church or parish.

I hate gossips! LOL

same here. and if you are working in a parish-based community, you have to do as you preach for that you can invite more souls.

Right! It's sad to hear that some spiritual leaders are the ones who are doing what they preach as wrong.

hornetlover, whenever I encounter a similar situation, I think like this and it has helped me a lot: If a fellow human smokes and blows some smoke in my face, would it be logical for me to say that because this human blew some smoke in my face, and I don't like it, then because of what he did, I will never breathe again? I find that what the Bible says is good for me and if a fellow Bible reader doesn't apply what the Bible says, then the problem is not with the Bible but with the person who doesn't apply what the Bible says.

I love reading the Bible and will not allow what other people do stop me from enjoying one of the best pleasures I have ever found. Of course I make some mistakes and hope that other people will forgive me as I try to improve as a human being.

Blowing smoke in someone's face is rude! LOL

yes, i understand what you mean. but i would rather not to mingle with those hypocrites. i can do what the teachings has told me and i can serve God through other people, and there are millions of people in the universe so why would i waste my time with those kinds of hypocrites? i am not reading the bible because it made me more prone to commit mistakes. and i am not saying that i do not like reading the bible, i just stop reading the bible, because it also makes me feel like i am one of those hypocrites. if i sinned, i talk to God.

and i believe that you cannot show your love of God just by reading the bible, you can spread the love of God with how you communicate to people and how good you live your life.

Very nice hornetlover.
It reminds of this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVUqivFPHkI

Bono (U2) sees God through good works and through the poor individuals.
Very inspiring.

The Bible speaks many times of false prophets. You should not be led away from God's glory by the poor actions of others.
Matthew 7:15-26
also 1John 4:1-3
Both speak of false Prophets

thanks for the verse. i know that there are false prophets and i have met so many of them some are serving the congregations and some are in the brotherhood. and it is my choice to stay away from them and i am happy that i made this choice for me. i am not saying this because i want to encourage anybody to do what i just did. but this what makes me happy. and that is important. i still believe in God and i do not forget how he taught us to love one another, but i just cannot entertain those kinds of people. hypocrites i pity them. because they know that what they are doing is falsehood but they kept on doing it.

So you don't go to church anymore?

how to say it right?

yes, i don't go to church anymore.

I see. Same here. LOL

What specific book in the Bible that you find hard to comprehend?

Don't believe in religion and not to be religious. You just love human being and do something for society.Don't do anything wrong. This is story of bible. So no need to read.

Tell me more about your religion.