I was raised agnostic, and read the entire Bible at 21 yrs. My reaction to it was that it is part ancient history, part poetry, part morality tales, part philosophy and much horror, xenophobia, and misogyny. Reading it did not make me become religious, but rather the opposite.

As a teen the Bible was not easy to read, and most of it seemed irrelevant, especially the Old Testament which is primarily a history of the Jews along with their mythology. I wasn’t sold on the key doctrines of Christianity either, but I faked belief so as not to rock the boat. I have never felt led to sit down and read the Bible.

Turning away from old myths and dogma was for me just the beginning of a life of awareness, reverence and awe. I like to think that I threw out the bath water and kept the baby. Others tell me I’m full of woo.

As one who studied for the ministry I was good at reading the bible for myself.