Why should an agnostic, atheist, or any non-believer read the Bible? The Bible contributes so much to our understandings of not only the Judeo-Christian traditions of faith, but to a broader understanding of the cultures, political tensions, wars, literature, and myriad relevant topics and challenges for the past two thousand years. It has informed how we define ourselves, for both good and ill, as individuals, communities, and nations. This brief introduction will begin to explore some interesting motivations and ways we can view this text and will ask questions about its relevance for us today.

Lee Stagg has been an English and Theory of Knowledge teacher and program coordinator in the St. Paul Schools for over 25 years. He holds two master’s degrees in teaching English and Systematic Theology. Having moved from evangelical roots in the American south, through a more progressive Christianity, he is now a firm agnostic, yet retains a deep interest in studying philosophy, theology, the bible, and related topics.