Not really. If you're going to argue a point, you have to back it up with something, or at least know something about it. Many people claim to be Christians but haven't read any more of it than the page they're instructed to turn to when they're in church. So in this way atheists know more about the Bible than others who have never really read it from beginning to end.

Being an enthusiastic Christian does not mean you are a Bible "expert". Knowing about Christ and his message does not even require a Bible. Most early Christians did not own a Bible nor could they read it if they had one. I don't agree that atheists are more knowledgeble about the Bible but I don't know how this could be proven one way or the other. Mother Theresa did not spend her time memorizing Bible verses..she spent her life imitating Christ.Good question

I think it noteworthy that you in fact know "what most Athiests seem to know". In general I don't think anyone has to have a personal believe in something to know the idea, arguement, or logic behind it and in fact it many well bew an advantage to know all you can if you care to refute. +5

I was a Christian up until i read the bible and fully understood the religion of being a christian. After reading it i decided i would be an Athiest as i did not agree with many things!

Just because their Christian, it don't mean that they are perfect.

I don't "in general" find this to be the case, personally speaking.

There is a vast gap between "knowing about" and "comprehending."

Not really. Many Atheists consider Christians to be "the enemy," and one of the first things you learn in the US Military is this: "Always know you enemy, better than s/he does!" So, some Atheists make it a point to know the Bible much better than most Christians do, so they can be effective debaters on any subject found therein. +5

It makes sense to me- Most of the Atheists I know actually went through Catholic School and/or had the bible shoved down their throats all through childhood and adolescence, so they are very knowledgable. On the contrary, most of the strong believers I know haven't been believers all their lives, only in recent years.

I think the people who may become atheist are those who are more inclined to dig a little deeper into scripture and are less likely just to accept things at face value- and have the will to think things through clearly and the will to make reasonable and realistic conclusions. Free will, n'est ce pas?

Not really, atheist as well as agnosts must often defend their beliefs from "so-called" Christians, and what better than exposing the fallacies, hypocrisisy, inaccurac, etc. of the book they claim to live their lives by.

Many atheists have sought religion in the past, whether to justify their stance against the existence of deities, or to attempt to find their personal spirituality. Many Christians have been more or less "grandfathered-in" to the religion, due to family convictions. They need not do much studying to make their claim.

I have yet to find anyone on here Christian or Athiest that knows one thing about the Bible. On the side of the athiests, however, at least they can form a reason why they don't believe.

As an atheist I would rather have been a Christian who was well read before I could reject the bible, as opposed to someone who accepts the bible without truly undertanding, or at least studying it. I believe it's callled taking it on faith. I have none. Sometimes in a discussion I will help defenders of the bible, by pointing out quotes, but they consider me the voice of satan. ( He doesn't exist either) Ha Ha

reading the bible is what made me an athiest. that's why believers won't read it.

that is what divides us ... the amount of knowledge ;-)

It's par for the course. The church has actually banned the reading of the Bible by anyone other than the priesthood on multiple occasions and deemed heretic anyone who would translate the text into modern vernacular. http://www.hol.com/~mikesch/banned.htm Many Christians take whatever cliché or bumper sticker catchphrase dished out from behind the pulpit as gospel truth without ever researching it for scriptural accuracy, context, historical significance, or practical application. They base their entire belief system on hearsay, something that anyone of sound mind would NEVER do. Anyone who reads the Bible carefully can clearly see why the church feels so uncomfortable about it being in the hands of the laity. It doesn't take some outlandish revelation like those presented in movies like the Da Vinci Code or Stigmata, to name a couple, to overthrow the whole system. The Bible itself is diametrically opposed to the church. But people choose ignorance even in the face of fact. And, judging from some of the answers here, they justify their ignorance citing the superfluousness of perfection. Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Irony? Nah. Tragedy.

atheist can read the bible all the way through but they wont have any understanding of it because they lack the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Most christians seem to approach faith like they'd approach buying clothes. Wear the label but remain ignorant of where the clothes came from, who made them, and at what cost. They don't need to know what was in the bible, they can just hide behind it when they see fit. Atheist, being open minded about the Universe, tend to read more and be better informed. It's just highlights the difference between loss of knowledge through blind faith and gaining knowledge through reason.

I am honestly not trying to be pejorative here, but AB has the biggest collection of atheists I have ever encountered and I have read a number of their comments, and have yet to see one that indicated the commenter had any idea what the Bible said on the subject in question. I can say the same for any number of comments from Christians as well.

I wouldn't say "most christians". A lot of atheists are ex-christians and many gather their knowledge from growing up in the religion. Also, atheists are constantly under attack from believers and they find it necessary to back up their arguments with the bible. And a lot of them do amazing jobs. I'm neither an atheist or a Christian, but i have certainly been both at some point in my life. That is my point of view.

Great perception! I used to, but not anymore! If the thumpers spend time actually reading it, it means less time thumpin' it for others! ;-)

Maybe a few atheists know the Bible better than Christians, but there is a big difference in knowing about the Bible, and knowing the God who has revealed Himself in the Bible.

They pretend to. I have interacted with many on here and I haven't met a single one that actually provided a valid argument against Christianity. All they can do is mock. Their venture into theology stops at Richard Dawkins-- IF THAT!

Yeah, I do find that it quite ironic. If you are a truly Atheist though, you have the mindset that you will not discredit anything you don't know anything about. Most atheists are scientists (or scientific minded) such as myself, I have read the Bible and look for for and against arguments towards the bible and based my best judgment on the information I've gathered. I'm sure many other Atheists are alike.

Yeah, I do find that it quite ironic. If you are a truly Atheist though, you have the mindset that you will not discredit anything you don't know anything about. Most atheists are scientists (or scientific minded) such as myself, I have read the Bible and look for for and against arguments towards the bible and based my best judgment on the information I've gathered. I'm sure many other Atheists are alike.

No. Knowledge is important and should be sought by those who have been given that gift. But faith is more important than book learning. It was the heresy of Gnosticism, which taught that Salvation comes from knowledge (gnosis means knowledge). Christianity teaches salvation comes from grace and not merit (or knowledge). What I find ironic is how many Atheists claim to know about the Bible and yet miss its entire point. With love in Christ.

They believe that to make a decision to reject all religions and Gods, they have to make a reasonable decision. They don't choose a religion just because it is the first religion that came knocking on their door.

Who told you that? What do you mean by [some] Christians? How many is [some]? 9? Not only is it not ironic, it's not true.

I find that people who are constantly surrounded by something, tend to "feel" as if they know it. This false security causes them to not look too deep. They assume that going to church and listening to the pastor is sufficient. Someone who is not familiar is more likely to research the issue. One of my neighbors knows way more about the history our city than I do. I never pick up those pamphlets about my city. I have lived here most of my life, so I feel like I don't need the info.

It's ironic that some atheists think that most atheists know more about the Bible that some Christians.