Bible question - Page 2

[somasoul]

I read whatever I can get my hands on, it's all good! I typically prefer the NIV or Today's English Version if I want that old skool 70s vibe.

 I was brought up in a very hypocritical Baptist home my family mom and extended family and church they attend are very racists (against whites marrying other racists,against Religions mixing(I know it's in the bible some what),all Muslims are terrorists,I'm going to Hellosoup for having a tattoo and any piercing other than ears are wrong. the only real bible is the KJV and anything else is false and should be burned.

HA! When I first moved out of state I visited a Baptist church with a Bible under my arm. The pastor was very welcoming but after a couple minutes asked "What translation are you using?" I replied "NIV." Very cooly he said "Well, we only use the KJV here." At that moment I thought to myself "Man, I'm in the wrong joint." The KJV is cool and all, but if you're KJV only it tells me a lot about your church.

You know what? Move on from those people and forgive them. They are extremely ignorant and have a small faith. But Jesus forgives them...I think. 

[Wolfcat]

I have King James', NIV and the Catholic study bible. I used to have The Book for Children, as a child, of course. I have read and referenced all of them at multiple times.

I'm an ecclectic Pagan.

I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Nice quote, JElaineB. I may have to steal it...

[LynnS6]

The NRSV. I'm Lutheran.

[nicolelynn]

For the Protestant canon (what most of America refers to as the "Bible") I like my NASB study Bible. Otherwise I am reading a lot of the Gnostic gospels and texts (the Gospel of Thomas being my favorite), and currently reading the Qu'ran.

I am a mystic/Universalist heavily into Liberation Theology. This is a development of the past year. For my previous 30 years I was a fundamentalist evangelical...and passionately so. I was a missionary. But that theology fell apart for me. It was scary. It still is hard because most of my friends and extended family are still fundamentalist evangelical and most don't even know what I believe now. I am afraid of what will happen if they do. Thankfully my husband and immediate family (parents, brothers, sister-in-laws) are on the same page or at least very understanding. And we were all VERY evangelical (missionaries, worship leaders, Assistant Pastors, etc).

I, too would second reading just the words of Jesus for now. I personally would start with the Synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke), and compare how different John is. The Synoptic gospels present a more human Christ. John is much more other-worldly, filled with his personal reflection on who and what Christ was/is. Decide for yourself through prayer, research and reflection weather you want to filter His words through the rest of the New Testament, through Christianity or anything else. Otherwise, if you just read His words you may find a very different message than Christendom has made them out to be. I personally don't think He came to start another religion. 

I have found the Kingdom of God was/is His message, not personal salvation from sins and hell (I don't believe in a literal hell anymore), and that Kingdom isn't limited to any doctrinal or theological creed (Christianity, etc).

I pray your path is illuminated and your heart heals. I pray for support/community for you. Peace. 

[mamabadger]

Orthodox Christian.

We've got a copy of about a dozen different translations, which we use, if nothing else, to compare translations sometimes. We even keep copies of a couple that are more paraphrase than translation, just to be aware what other people are reading. I like the English translation from the Greek Septuagint for the OT, and either KJV or NIV for ordinary reading of the NT. KJV is useful because I can use a concordance on it. I plan to get an Orthodox Study Bible in the near future, having heard good things about it. My DH likes the Douay-Rheims version better than KJV; he finds it clearer