Bible basher

English

Alternative forms

• Bible-basher

Noun

Bible basher (plural Bible bashers)

1. (derogatory) A fundamentalist Christian preacher, or other fervent Christian, who is seen to take every opportunity to talk about Christianity and attempt to convert those around them.

   Synonyms: (US) Bible thumper, Bible pounder, Bible puncher, (UK) God botherer, (UK, US) member of the God squad, Bible beater

   Coordinate term: Koran basher (“fundamentalist Muslim”)

   I don't ever go to my local church any more: it's become filled with stupid, fuddy-duddy Bible bashers.

   • 1969, April Hersey, Hooked on God : the Wayside Chapel experiment‎^[1], Melbourne: Sun Books, →LCCN, LCC BV2656.S9 W35, page 106:

     I was a real Bible basher. I used to rush round asking people if they were saved.

   • 2008, Ian Commins, Fiveways‎^[2], Queensland: University of Queensland Press, →ISBN, page 73:

     There is a skinny old bible basher who is always out gathering souls, regardless of the weather.

2. A person who finds fault with the Bible, Christianity, or Christian teaching.

   Synonym: anti-Christian

   • 2002, Everett Hickey, “Biblical”, in alt.astronomy‎^[3] (Usenet):

     I'm no bible-basher looking to discredit everything I hear, but there is one point that might be interesting to argue...If the bible is the Word of God, which version or language is the official Word, as the meanings change subtley^[sic] from one to another?

   • 2003, Jeff Shirton, “Conference...”, in alt.religion.mormon‎^[4] (Usenet):

     There *are* no "Biblical contradictions". Years ago, I...addressed many, many, many alleged "contradictions". It's a very sad state of affairs, most Bible bashers who claim "contradictions" prefer quantity over quality, and no matter how many *ridiculous* claims they came up with and I demolished, they would continue with others...

   • 2006, veralein, How to protect yourself against false Christian teachers in alt.christnet.christianlife [5]

     I think you are just a Bible basher for what reasons ever. Maybe you are just an atheist who has pleasure in trolling Christians and recruiting them.

Usage notes

• The first sense is the most common of the two in the UK, though the second may also be used (in context).
• While the second sense holds primary usage in the US, the first sense can also be used (in context). See talk page.
• This term is a contranym, also known as an autoantonym (its own antonym), since its senses are negations of one another.

Translations

fundamentalist Christian preacher

• Esperanto: bigoto
• French:grenouille de bénitier (fr) f, punaise de sacristie (fr) f
• Portuguese: crentelho (pt) m, evanjegue m or f
• Russian: христанутый m (xristanutyj)
• Spanish: chupacirios (es)