Ever since I was 13 I’ve had this black leather-bound book on my shelf. It’s got my name in gold on the bottom of the front cover. In the middle of the front cover it says “Holy Bible.”
I know that many of you have read this book before, but I have not. One of, if not the, most influential books of all time, and it’s been gathering dust on my shelf. Well, no more!
So, fellow Dopers, my plan is this: each week I will read one book in the Bible, probably a few times so I can absorb it. Then, on Thursday morning, I’ll report back. I’ll let you know what I thought, quote you any interesting bits, maybe wax philosophical/religious, maybe give a little summary for those who (like me) haven’t ever read the thing.
If you’ve got any words of advice/encouragement, let me know. Otherwise, expect to see my thoughts on Genesis next Thursday.
Also, if you have anything you’d like me to look for, let me know. I will be reading it cover to cover, so if you’re curious what the Good Book says about something, tell me, and I’ll keep an eye out.
Stuff like that. Also, a word of caution: I know quite a few people who’ve attempted this, and they usually croak around Leviticus. Even Martin Luther wondered aloud why Moses would repeat and reiterate laws to the point of boredom. You do have thirty-five days to get through the Pentateuch, but I’m willing to bet it’ll be tough.
I’ve read it cover to cover twice. Once in an advanced Bible study (I went to Catholic school for 8 years) and then again when I got into college and started to want to be able to explain my doubts that book. The first time I went through as a young (12-13) wide-eyed believer, the second time I was looking for the holes. There have been few times in my life when I have been disgusted as much as when I read the book of Deuteronomy for the second time. I decided then and there that if the character “Yaweh” exists as depicted in that book he is one evil entity which I will never worship uncoerced.
Good luck. It is at times a great book, filled with metaphor, hope and promise calling upon us to be the best we can be to each other. But it is also at times an all too telling glimpse into the cruelty and prejudices of the primitive peoples who penned the stories.
Very interesting. I’ve thought about doing this exact thing as I know certin verses, but never managed to put the whole thing together and make coherent sense of it. I’m looking forward to your reports.
Good Luck - I’ve read the Bible through in a year (Jan-Dec). Tends to be a little depressing when it’s Christmas, everyone’s happy, and you’re reading about the end of the world. <<sigh>>
And I suggest reading the Apocrypha too. A few more books but very interesting.
If you do get stuck in the law I recommend skipping ahead to the histories which are my personal favorite part (likely because they have a fairly strong narative). There’s no shame in not being able to get through Leviticus.
And if you do get that far keep a close eye on the radical changes in tone between the Old and New testiments. It’s a facinating study in contrasts.
I’d love to give you one, Mahaloth. I can’t seem to find one online and I originally read it as a theology student in a book that may or may not be in my attic. If I get the time to get up there soon, I’ll get back to you.
Oh, and in case anyone is curious, I’m really going into this with the intention that when I am through I will have a better understanding about my fellow man/woman, not only in the sense that I’ll (probably) better understand those I know who have strong Christian beliefs, but also that I might recognise today’s culture and events reflected in these pages.
My only advice is to take it paragraph by paragraph and if there is something you don’t understand, think on it awhile before going on and maybe re-read it until it makes sense.
I hope God reveals himself and the meaning of his word to you.
Ooh! Ooh! If you’re going to be reading Genesis first, be on the lookout for similarities to other mythologies!
When I first decided to read through Genesis, 13 years ago, I was struck by how similar it was in content and feel to Classical and Norse creation myths. Heck, it even has giants (the Nephilim) walking the Earth in Genesis 6:4! And, of course, the flood story of Genesis 7-8 has some similarities to the ancient Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, but you probably already knew that.
I tried reading it cover to cover a few years ago–I’d read and heard read lots of it, of course, in bits and pieces. I got majorly bogged down once I hit the prophets–Leviticus was no trouble at all.
A bit of advice for you (and other first time readers of the bible)
Read the New Testament first. Although The New Testament quotes the old at many places I found it overly depressing to read the Old Testament first as it can be, IMHO, sumarized as “the bad news”.