As an atheist, I couldn't agree more. The fastest way to become an atheist, as it's often pointed out, is to read the Bible, which explains why about 95% of the Christians I've known have never read it. When asked, they say things like "the _whole_ thing?" or "cover to cover?" as if it were the unabridged Oxford English Dictionary, instead of just a single volume.
As a work of literature, with an unparalleled influence on Western culture, it's required reading for anyone interested in literature, philosophy, history, or related disciplines. As a blueprint for how to live your life, however, any reasonably ethical person will find its teachings to be at odds with modern ethics. More often than not, it's morally repugnant, and unapologetic about it, too. You won't hear about how backwards its morality is by going to church, though, and so you need to read it for yourself. Even Jesus, one of the most upright citizens in the book, is revealed to be as full of hate and vengeance as he is a "prince of peace."
Of course, as with everything, it really matters what edition you get. The New Oxford Annotated Bible is a good starting point. The Norton Critical editions (in two volumes, the old and the new testaments) are great, too, and include some of the source materials. (Bet you didn't know that a lot of the Bible was plagiar...ahem... adapted from much earlier texts, and from other religions.) The Skeptic's Annotated Bible is a great edition, too, and annotates everything from a secular perspective.
As a work of literature, with an unparalleled influence on Western culture, it's required reading for anyone interested in literature, philosophy, history, or related disciplines. As a blueprint for how to live your life, however, any reasonably ethical person will find its teachings to be at odds with modern ethics. More often than not, it's morally repugnant, and unapologetic about it, too. You won't hear about how backwards its morality is by going to church, though, and so you need to read it for yourself. Even Jesus, one of the most upright citizens in the book, is revealed to be as full of hate and vengeance as he is a "prince of peace."
Of course, as with everything, it really matters what edition you get. The New Oxford Annotated Bible is a good starting point. The Norton Critical editions (in two volumes, the old and the new testaments) are great, too, and include some of the source materials. (Bet you didn't know that a lot of the Bible was plagiar...ahem... adapted from much earlier texts, and from other religions.) The Skeptic's Annotated Bible is a great edition, too, and annotates everything from a secular perspective.