What do Atheists get wrong about the Bible?

In this episode I host Megan Lewis and Dr. Joshua Bowen from the awesome YouTube Channel Digital Hammurabi on our series that involves Dr. Josh's book "The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament."

In this episode I couldn't help myself as an Atheist overtaken with curiosity and so I had to ask them *what do atheists usually get wrong about the Bible?

Their answer is shocking! Many atheists due to a lack of understanding of ancient history and especially the ancient Near East views these societies and in Canaan as backwards, uncivilized and lacking any form of real organized system of society and that couldn't be further from the truth. They oftentimes will use the term "Goat Herder" and I couldn't be more flabbergasted because (1) it isn't just ignorant but incredibly anti-Semitic and (2) it continues to play into and push an agenda that we see throughout historiography and that is orientalism. Orientalism is a form of historiographical narrative that attempts to negate, overlook and ignore the great contributions of the East to world history and it is a narrative that though it has fallen to the wayside in mainstream academia it continues to fester among novices, white supremacists and politically-racially biased fringe historians.

Feel like I am picking on my fellow Atheists? Have no fear because next week we will be turning the other cheek to focus on evangelicals and what they usually get wrong about the big B. I. B. L. E.

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[cohomologygroup]

Those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it; those who do study history are doomed to watch everyone around them repeat it.

[Honeybadger_]

I'm glad you brought on Megan and Josh to discuss this controversial topic. I wouldn't mind seeing a more in-depth video from them. As a fellow atheist, I may not believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible but I can still appreciate its significance as a work of literature as well as its insight into ancient history.

[curiouslizard]

I have friends who say “ those people fifty years ago believed xyz, they were so stupid! We’re so much more enlightened than they were” and my response is “of course and in another fifty years they’ll be saying the same thing about us”.

[sjsm]

As a Christian and Bible student I totally appreciate this conversation S.A.M.A. I didn't actually know you're an atheist. Love your content as always.

[mirostanimirov]

I'm an Atheist! And l LOVE the part I of the Bible, the Old Testament. It is a Treasure of Human dramaturgy, Philosophicall text, sociological observations and all in all great LITERATURE.
A mind of the 21 century rich Kids, who are indoctrinated, prejudice full, and closed, can't separate the Text from the Church and so make basically exactly what indoctrinated Christians do : misunderstanding it and loading it with values that came later or values that have nothing to do with the Bible as TEXT. Not as whatever else it is presented.

[anavalenzuela]

I was raised an atheist since my birth. However, when I lived in Argentina, my parents realized that public education was horrible. So, they sent me to a catholic school. Those nuns had the most bizarre ideas!!!! I also went to a catholic college. I had the best grades in Theology, although my teacher always thought that I was Jewish because of my knowledge of the Old Testament. Among the trillions of books that I was reading at the time I had my hands and eyes on "Guide to the Bible" by Isaac Asimov. I think that's the book that I read more frequently. I strongly recommend it.

[jsoth]

so we can look at a written source and both understand it somewhat and appreciate it, but not necessarily agree with it? gotta say big surprise there. as always this was great, thanks for your time yall.

[outlawbarber]

In Nicks obituary it said that he regained his faith in September 2021. As a former atheist I told him that a 10 gram magic mushroom trip changed my mind about forces in the universe religious people call a "Creator" We never had a deep conversation about it because shortly after he fell ill. Nick was great. I will really miss his videos and I wish the best for his family. This is one of my favorite videos of his and the unique content he created will always reign supreme forever on the internet. Anyone reading this please share or donate to his go fund me. This man on a personal level was a beautiful human being. R.I.P. Nick wherever your spirit is. SAMA will live forever.

[TheDeadlyDan]

I would say that those ancient words and the sentiment they conveyed around slavery were very much in focus, yet the confederates still used those very words to justify their behavior. Remembering what was said in the past {even to the point of admiration in the literacy} is by no means a vindication of what was actually written or any indication of how it will be interpreted. It's certainly not enough to alter my opinion of what they wrote. I take equal umbrage in considering ANY historic population as unsophisticated and primitive. All indications we have show that ancient people were every bit as 'modern' in terms of dress, trade, exploration, inquiry, and behavior as we are today. Our only true advantage over our progenitors is in remembering what they did and thought while attempting to not repeat mistakes. Pointing out those mistakes isn't a bad thing, it's how we advance.

[octurn]

What concerns me is the placement of books on the top shelf requiring a step ladder to access while there appears to be plenty of space on the lower shelves to the right.

[pabloalvez]

I consider myself as a Agnostic, since I've been strongly influenced by the Illuminist philosophy . Nonetheless, I recognize Christianity's profound influence on the shaping of European identity.

[erikross]

We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.

[shanecarubbi]

Interesting vid nick, thanks.... I wouldnt mind seeing more debates on this topic. Good stuff.

[TGApuleius]

I think goat herder is also used because there's a sizable group in antiquity that, as some emphasized their complex responses to critiques, others romanticized the simplicity of the authors and followers. I even heard that growing up, as if these rustic farmers and herders were somehow untainted, and that simplicity was necessary for purity. I don't think the slavery route was a good one to go down because the counter to it being a sort of hand-wave to the practice seemed to waver pretty quickly.

[danielpaulson]

From Jewish Exodus and Greek Argonautica. Moses and Jason. The story holds "concepts" we can see in the background.

1. Calling - Both saved as youngsters.


2. Struggle to leave past - Jason and island of Old Gods. Moses and Egypt. Both leave but are chased.


3. Supernatural aid - Jason to Mt Olympus to talk to Zeus and gain five favors from the goddess Hera. Moses to Mt Horeb to talk to Yahweh at burning bush and get the magical staff.


4. Crossing the threshold - Jason invokes a God to help him sail through the Clashing Rocks. Moses invokes God to open the Red Sea for him to run through. Both barely get through. Etc. etc. etc. It's huge. It was their media in their day. Imagine millions of people pre-electricity and these myths and religions where the most current media and population guide.


The Bible is a carrier of a common monomyth, only in religious genre. One may as well worship Zeus and await the return of Jason. Or worship Krishna while awaiting the return of Arjuna.
One myth. Many outward looking paths leading to destruction.

[chochonubcake]

If you're looking for a religious book that predicts scientific concepts, read the Upanishads and compare them to what we know of sub-atomic physics.

[buddharuci]

You start with an assumption about atheists, that we think the Bible writers were dumb. You then generalize the Bible writers as “highly trained, “ by analogy. You go on to imply that we atheists don’t appreciate the beauty of (some of) the text. Atheism is in a nutshell the knowledge that there is no god. The rest is chaff.

[meanmawturner]

What proof do thy have of who or who not wrote it.? Did she just call ppl stupid? 🤦🏽‍♀️ you don’t take the high road though, do you?

[redapol]

Great collaboration! Two channels that I already love and subscribe to!

[paulmartin]

I think a good 75% of atheists are good on this one