One of my favorite quotes.

He was right. It's a shame nobody reads it the way it was written.

Sadly missed. I loved the Foundation trilogy.

Devil's advocate: a believer might point out the "properly read", ANYTHING can be turned into an argument against its own thesis. Believers generally claim to "properly read" their own holy books, and that we unbelievers have no clue to understanding it because we're not initiates into their esoteric belief-system. This of course forgets that most of us are deconverts FROM it and, on average, far more literate in the Bible than most believers. But they are so used to complaining that not just we unbelievers, but believers of other sects, aren't "doing it right" that it's easy for them to say we're taking a passage "out of context", too literally or too figuratively, or deliberately distorting what, to them, is its plain meaning.

"Properly read" would be "critically read", and holy books are not supposed to be read critically or skeptically; that, in fact, is blasphemy. They are to be read credulously, with non-critical acceptance, and adhered to "by faith".

So while I appreciate Asimov's declaration for what it is, I don't think it would sway most pew-warmers.

I absolutely agree. It's what finally convinced me.

Truth! Now if only more would see it.

Aptly stated!

It was for me.
As a child they told me about God and all the authorities believed in God, so then I followed my biological imperitive and also believed.
Then they gave me a Bible, but the God in that did not match the God they had told me about.
And the Dogma they used to explain away the issues did not explain anything, it made excuses for it and appealed to ignorace and the inferority of humans and the mystery of God.
It was reading the Bible which caused me to question religion first, and God later.

I don't believe most believers read much of the Bible. I think they just watch the movies.

Great Quote.

What do you mean by properly read. Plenty of the bible is quite "matter of fact" and to the point, especially when it comes to punishment. When God appears in someone's dream and tells him to go out and destroy a town and kill everything that moves, is not subject to interpretation. The biblical god is something to be afraid of if it were real. He is obsessed with sex and murder among other attributes. I had enough of that when I was growing up and I am free of that, thank goodness.

I live that quote

Facts

I totally agree.

Asimov was exactly correct. It worked for me. Remember that without the ridiculous book of Genesis there would be no need whatsoever for Jesus. If you are an Evangelical you will forever believe in talking snakes.

If the Bible is to be taken the way “scholars” choose to interpret it then Dr. Seuss’s wrote the best books we have on thermodynamics, especially the 2nd law as it purtains to Green eggs and ham.

Yes it is so illogical beginning in Genesis.

If I remember correctly didn't he write a book on the Bible called, "Asimov's Guide to the Bible", or something like that.

Now there's a great statement !

Yup...

Love his work