6 ms·

This is good advice, but > they are probably used to read a chapter or two on a daily basis This sounds mental. Reading the Bible on a daily basis? I’m pretty

by klmr 7y ago

This is good advice, but > they are probably used to read a chapter or two on a daily basis This sounds mental. Reading the Bible on a daily basis? I’m pretty sure that this is not the norm for the vast majority of (devout) Christians (at least in Western/Central Europe).

viraptor 7y ago
It is not a norm. Even in very devout households attending multiple masses every week. (I'm not saying there aren't people doing actual mindful reading every day, but the generalisation to "Christians" in this case is bad)
- pwinnski 7y ago
  I believe (without linkable evidence) that Roman Catholics are far less likely to engage in daily reading that protestants, but 27% of Americans[0] read their Bibles several times a week or daily. [0] https://www.barna.com/research/state-of-the-bible-2018-seven-top-findings/ https://www.barna.com/research/state-of-the-bible-2018-seven...
  - pault 7y ago
    Is that based on self reporting?
  - viraptor 7y ago
    I tried to get to some research on this topic, but it's pretty hard to find anything really independent. There are a few surveys, but there are issues: they're sponsored by Christian/evangelical groups, and I think their respondents are going to be a bit skewed: > Persons in selected households are then invited by telephone or by mail to participate in the web-enabled KnowledgePanel I have opinions on how biased this can be...
woodrowbarlow 7y ago
just because it doesn't align with what you've observed doesn't mean it's "mental". that's rude. please be constructive.
- commandlinefan 7y ago
  I think he means that it's "in your mind", not that it's crazy.
- asdkhadsj 7y ago
  I think he means it's mental to imagine Christians actually doing that. I agree. No judgement in if you do that, good for you. However the point is not that it's too much reading or w/e, but rather that it's far more than the typical christian cares to do. To assume christians actually do that is the mental part, but you choosing to do; if that makes sense. edit: To the downvote, do you honestly think the majority of christians in America, some self proclaimed 70% of Americans iirc, read several passages a day? Really?
  - iamnotacrook 7y ago
    Not a downvoter, but you're probably being downvoted because it's clear that "mental" IS being used to mean "crazy", and quite obviously so.
    - asdkhadsj 7y ago
      I mean, imo he very clearly meant the frequency was mental; I guess I just interpret his reply to someone saying that Christians read that frequently as mental, rather than it being mental itself to read that frequently.
    - klmr 7y ago
      For what it’s worth the comment you’re replying to is completely right about what I meant. I see that my phrasing invites misunderstanding, and the distinction is subtle.
  - pwinnski 7y ago
    Of that 70% is a large chunk who never even attend church, who claim to be Christian for reasons unclear to anyone. It turns out about 27% of Americans[0] read their Bible several times per week, with more than half of those reading it daily. [0] https://www.barna.com/research/state-of-the-bible-2018-seven-top-findings/ https://www.barna.com/research/state-of-the-bible-2018-seven...
jlg23 7y ago
"mental"? In rural areas of central Europe you'll quite often find the Bible in hotel rooms for your nightly bible lecture.
- viraptor 7y ago
  Because they're supplied by specific organisations (mostly Gideons International) in large quantities to hotels. You'll also find them in hotel rooms in central Sydney. It's neither a rural nor European thing. (Literally their main goal listed on the site: https://www.gideons.org/about https://www.gideons.org/about)
- astura 7y ago
  That's because an organization called the Gideons put them there, not necessarily because anyone asked for them, wants them, or reads them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gideons_International https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gideons_International
- asdkhadsj 7y ago
  In the US too. Doesn't mean "christians" actually do that. Christians in my experience largely just like the label, very few follow through with a life of learning and loving. edit: I should be clear, I'm just referring to christians by label; not anyone specifically. If you are christian and you read daily, put in effort to learn and love, more power to you. I appreciate you. That however seems abnormal in my experience. People tend to be lazy, and christians are after all people.
a-saleh 7y ago
When I was in high-school and college I did this a few times for several months. Pattern I usually fell into is reading a chapter of Proverbs or Ecclesiastes in the morning (to get my boost for this weird spiritual nihilistic stoicism) and a Psalm in the evening (that felt like more of a human connection) I had friends who had that as a stable morning and evening ritual for years, complete with bible-studybook-journals e.t.c
pessimizer 7y ago
I'd argue that it definitely is a norm for devout Christians in the US. Bible chapters are a lot shorter than you think (if you're not familiar with the Bible), though. It's a bit of a No True Scotsman, but a lot of people who claim they're devout don't really read the Bible at all, just make public judgments about people. The actually devout people I know usually have a copy of the Bible near the bed, often with an issue of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Daily_Bread https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Daily_Bread on top of it (A daily devotional.) Very long-time atheist here. Is it really that much of an ordeal to spend 10-20 minutes with the words of the creator and lord of your universe every day? IMO if that sounds tough, then the belief can't be serious. If you have a favorite 1 hour weekly TV show, that's almost the same amount of time committed.
- astura 7y ago
  I don't know about Protestant denominations but my mother grew up extremely Catholic (in the US) where every single part of life revolved around church. The family was about as devout as you could possibly get, including not practicing birth control. However, individual Bible reading wasn't practiced. In fact, individual Bible reading was actually discouraged by the nuns.
  - pessimizer 7y ago
    I'd bet the tradition isn't the same in Catholicism (which I have no experience with.) Protestantism is largely an outgrowth of insisting that the Bible be distributed, and in a language that the locals could understand. The Roman churches expected you to be dependent on the priest's communications of what the Bible said.
    - pteraspidomorph 7y ago
      The catholic church in general is, incredible as this may sound, more open to evolution. It just takes a very, very long time, but there have been dogma updates and clarifications throughout the centuries, and even admissions of being in the wrong. I fully expect the church's stance on some highly divisive issues of today to further evolve in the coming decades. Rather than insisting stories from millennia ago written by humans (even if you believe them to be divinely inspired) are forever perfect and right for an evolving secular civilization, it makes more sense to me if those stories are put into context by what are, in the end, educated professionals who have spent years studying them and other associated texts. I've heard a lot of sermons from catholic priests who were good at their job (caveat: I've also heard priests who were terrible at their job...) that I would consider interesting and thought-provoking even for atheists. I'm particularly fond of jesuit priests (such as the current pope), who are more scientifically minded and more likely to speak "my language", in my experience.
bogrollben 7y ago
It's called a "quiet time". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiet_Time https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiet_Time
- koenigdavidmj 7y ago
  Or family worship among us stodgier Protestants. It also includes a family praying together and singing psalms and/or hymns.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
hannasanarion 7y ago
Even if you don't normally read daily, you probably know the meaning of most verses. Most Christians know the creation myth by heart, and are pretty familiar with the sermon on the mount and the passion stories, so they can probably pick up a lot of vocabulary from context.
- klmr 7y ago
  Yes: As mentioned, I think this is excellent advice.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
workthrowaway 7y ago
first time i am using a throwaway account lol. but, hey, i do read the bible on a daily basis or at least try to. i don't consider myself the most "devout" tbh. but reading the bible daily is very easy! i mean everyday readings comes in my email along with a bunch of other newsletters. i read all that stuff every morning, so it is definitely not hard.

by klmr 7y ago

viraptor 7y ago

It is not a norm. Even in very devout households attending multiple masses every week. (I'm not saying there aren't people doing actual mindful reading every day, but the generalisation to "Christians" in this case is bad)

pwinnski 7y ago
I believe (without linkable evidence) that Roman Catholics are far less likely to engage in daily reading that protestants, but 27% of Americans[0] read their Bibles several times a week or daily. [0] https://www.barna.com/research/state-of-the-bible-2018-seven-top-findings/ https://www.barna.com/research/state-of-the-bible-2018-seven...
- pault 7y ago
  Is that based on self reporting?
- viraptor 7y ago
  I tried to get to some research on this topic, but it's pretty hard to find anything really independent. There are a few surveys, but there are issues: they're sponsored by Christian/evangelical groups, and I think their respondents are going to be a bit skewed: > Persons in selected households are then invited by telephone or by mail to participate in the web-enabled KnowledgePanel I have opinions on how biased this can be...

woodrowbarlow 7y ago

just because it doesn't align with what you've observed doesn't mean it's "mental". that's rude. please be constructive.

commandlinefan 7y ago
I think he means that it's "in your mind", not that it's crazy.
asdkhadsj 7y ago
I think he means it's mental to imagine Christians actually doing that. I agree. No judgement in if you do that, good for you. However the point is not that it's too much reading or w/e, but rather that it's far more than the typical christian cares to do. To assume christians actually do that is the mental part, but you choosing to do; if that makes sense. edit: To the downvote, do you honestly think the majority of christians in America, some self proclaimed 70% of Americans iirc, read several passages a day? Really?
- iamnotacrook 7y ago
  Not a downvoter, but you're probably being downvoted because it's clear that "mental" IS being used to mean "crazy", and quite obviously so.
  - asdkhadsj 7y ago
    I mean, imo he very clearly meant the frequency was mental; I guess I just interpret his reply to someone saying that Christians read that frequently as mental, rather than it being mental itself to read that frequently.
  - klmr 7y ago
    For what it’s worth the comment you’re replying to is completely right about what I meant. I see that my phrasing invites misunderstanding, and the distinction is subtle.
- pwinnski 7y ago
  Of that 70% is a large chunk who never even attend church, who claim to be Christian for reasons unclear to anyone. It turns out about 27% of Americans[0] read their Bible several times per week, with more than half of those reading it daily. [0] https://www.barna.com/research/state-of-the-bible-2018-seven-top-findings/ https://www.barna.com/research/state-of-the-bible-2018-seven...

jlg23 7y ago

"mental"? In rural areas of central Europe you'll quite often find the Bible in hotel rooms for your nightly bible lecture.

viraptor 7y ago
Because they're supplied by specific organisations (mostly Gideons International) in large quantities to hotels. You'll also find them in hotel rooms in central Sydney. It's neither a rural nor European thing. (Literally their main goal listed on the site: https://www.gideons.org/about https://www.gideons.org/about)
astura 7y ago
That's because an organization called the Gideons put them there, not necessarily because anyone asked for them, wants them, or reads them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gideons_International https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gideons_International
asdkhadsj 7y ago
In the US too. Doesn't mean "christians" actually do that. Christians in my experience largely just like the label, very few follow through with a life of learning and loving. edit: I should be clear, I'm just referring to christians by label; not anyone specifically. If you are christian and you read daily, put in effort to learn and love, more power to you. I appreciate you. That however seems abnormal in my experience. People tend to be lazy, and christians are after all people.

a-saleh 7y ago

When I was in high-school and college I did this a few times for several months. Pattern I usually fell into is reading a chapter of Proverbs or Ecclesiastes in the morning (to get my boost for this weird spiritual nihilistic stoicism) and a Psalm in the evening (that felt like more of a human connection) I had friends who had that as a stable morning and evening ritual for years, complete with bible-studybook-journals e.t.c

pessimizer 7y ago

I'd argue that it definitely is a norm for devout Christians in the US. Bible chapters are a lot shorter than you think (if you're not familiar with the Bible), though. It's a bit of a No True Scotsman, but a lot of people who claim they're devout don't really read the Bible at all, just make public judgments about people. The actually devout people I know usually have a copy of the Bible near the bed, often with an issue of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Daily_Bread https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Daily_Bread on top of it (A daily devotional.) Very long-time atheist here. Is it really that much of an ordeal to spend 10-20 minutes with the words of the creator and lord of your universe every day? IMO if that sounds tough, then the belief can't be serious. If you have a favorite 1 hour weekly TV show, that's almost the same amount of time committed.

astura 7y ago
I don't know about Protestant denominations but my mother grew up extremely Catholic (in the US) where every single part of life revolved around church. The family was about as devout as you could possibly get, including not practicing birth control. However, individual Bible reading wasn't practiced. In fact, individual Bible reading was actually discouraged by the nuns.
- pessimizer 7y ago
  I'd bet the tradition isn't the same in Catholicism (which I have no experience with.) Protestantism is largely an outgrowth of insisting that the Bible be distributed, and in a language that the locals could understand. The Roman churches expected you to be dependent on the priest's communications of what the Bible said.
  - pteraspidomorph 7y ago
    The catholic church in general is, incredible as this may sound, more open to evolution. It just takes a very, very long time, but there have been dogma updates and clarifications throughout the centuries, and even admissions of being in the wrong. I fully expect the church's stance on some highly divisive issues of today to further evolve in the coming decades. Rather than insisting stories from millennia ago written by humans (even if you believe them to be divinely inspired) are forever perfect and right for an evolving secular civilization, it makes more sense to me if those stories are put into context by what are, in the end, educated professionals who have spent years studying them and other associated texts. I've heard a lot of sermons from catholic priests who were good at their job (caveat: I've also heard priests who were terrible at their job...) that I would consider interesting and thought-provoking even for atheists. I'm particularly fond of jesuit priests (such as the current pope), who are more scientifically minded and more likely to speak "my language", in my experience.

bogrollben 7y ago

It's called a "quiet time". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiet_Time https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiet_Time

koenigdavidmj 7y ago
Or family worship among us stodgier Protestants. It also includes a family praying together and singing psalms and/or hymns.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

hannasanarion 7y ago

Even if you don't normally read daily, you probably know the meaning of most verses. Most Christians know the creation myth by heart, and are pretty familiar with the sermon on the mount and the passion stories, so they can probably pick up a lot of vocabulary from context.

klmr 7y ago
Yes: As mentioned, I think this is excellent advice.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

workthrowaway 7y ago

first time i am using a throwaway account lol. but, hey, i do read the bible on a daily basis or at least try to. i don't consider myself the most "devout" tbh. but reading the bible daily is very easy! i mean everyday readings comes in my email along with a bunch of other newsletters. i read all that stuff every morning, so it is definitely not hard.