Posted: 4/6/2010 2:18:00 PM EDT
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Well, I'm dropping out of the GD forum for a while. At least till I can afford the price of membership again. I miss the ignore button.
I joined AR15.com to learn about the AR platform and stayed for the entertainment the GD forum offered. I was raised as a Methodist but quit after I started having misgivings the church I was attending. I attended a Full Gospel church for a while when I first got married but got turned off by things I saw and heard there also. I took a class on ancient middle eastern religions while at college and for years that was to end of my religious studies. Now about a month ago I picked up a book about mysticism and I've been reading ever since. I figure I should start with the old testament and work my way forward. I just got a copy of the Torah in the mail today and as soon as I finish the book I'm reading on Catholicism I'll read it. A little out of order I know but I got the book on Catholicism first. I'm do believe in God, the Holy Trinity and Christ. I just have trouble with the way it has been presented to me in the past so I'm on my own mission of learning. Any suggestions for future reading will be considered. |
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I would start the Bible with the Book of John. Also, I would find a translation that is easier to read than the King James Version. But the KJV is an excellent translation that should be (in my opinion) the version that all English translations should be compared with. Some translations are literally word for word (as much as possible) from the ancient, and some are more dynamic. My personal preference is the English Standard Version (ESV). It is translated literally, just like the KJV but in modern English
There is a site online where you can compare translations side by side. I find it very useful. go here: Bible Gateway Passage Look up I would strongly urge you to read the Bible, and NOT ABOUT the Bible. The book is there to read for itself. There are so many "experts" on the Bible and each has a different perspective. I urge you to read it and find your own. Usually the simplest explanation IS the explanation. And most importantly, ask God to help you understand. Faith will help you understand. The "logic of the world" will fail you. As for churches... You'll never find a perfect church that you can walk into here on earth. They all have problems. They all have hypocrites and unbelievers. The Devil is hard at work trying to keep you from God and he doesn't give up easily. There are false teachers out there. Compare everything that's taught to the Bible's teachings; if they conflict, move on! |
For the most part this forum is a far better use of your time 
What kind of books are you interested in primarily? Apologetics,Christian history, Sermon texts...? I have a few that I recommend for any collection so ill just throw a couple of them out there for you. While the following are classics I can recommend about anything these men have written. "Jesus Among Other Gods, by Ravi Zacharias"...check out His websight at rzim.org Jesus Among Other Gods "Ten Lies about God and How you might already Be deceived, by Erwin Lutzer" Ten Lies "Hell?...Yes! and Other Outrageous Truths You Can Still Believe, by Robert Jeffress" Hell? Yes! While those three are fairly easy reads if your looking for depth GK Chesterton and CS Lewis are two you cant go wrong with. Of course The Bible in two or three versions would take top priority. |
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Quoted:
For the most part this forum is a far better use of your time
What kind of books are you interested in primarily? Apologetics,Christian history, Sermon texts...? I have a few that I recommend for any collection so ill just throw a couple of them out there for you. While the following are classics I can recommend about anything these men have written. "Jesus Among Other Gods, by Ravi Zacharias"...check out His websight at rzim.org Jesus Among Other Gods "Ten Lies about God and How you might already Be deceived, by Erwin Lutzer" Ten Lies "Hell?...Yes! and Other Outrageous Truths You Can Still Believe, by Robert Jeffress" Hell? Yes! While those three are fairly easy reads if your looking for depth GK Chesterton and CS Lewis are two you cant go wrong with. Of course The Bible in two or three versions would take top priority. I've read most of the Bible, KJV. I'm trying to come to grips with why the Christian church has such different views all the while using the one book as reference. I've sat in a church while a "Christian" preacher told us all that other Christian churches were doing it wrong and they wouldn't get to go to heaven. Talk about luck of the draw, poor people thought they were good Christians but dang wrong sign out front. Thanks for the tip about Chesterton and Lewis. I believe both have books on Librivox. I'll download a couple to listen to on my commute. |
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Good luck on your journey.
One of the funniest things I heard in church was "...we use the NIV because it's the one Jesus used..." 
Since that was the version I brought with me and read at home, I was happy with that comment! It's true that you may never find a church you agree with 100%, but take some time to look around and pray for direction to find one that you're likely to mostly agree with and attend. Interesting that you've chosen to read so many other 'bibles' for informational purposes. Have fun shopping. 
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If you believe in:
God The Holy Trinity and Jesus ...you are not far off the mark. Just listen to what He said to (of all people) a learned lawyer: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40) For me, I found it best to first read the New Testament. I started with the Old, and always seemed to get bogged down by the time I get to Leviticus. I like to concentrate on what Jesus said, did, and told us what to do. ...you cannot beat the "retirement" benefits! Try this vid by Lou Giglio, with Chris Tomlin on stage: It will blow you away! Betcha you will want to see Parts 2, 3... How Great is our God? (when my p/u blew up (tranny exploded), I sat all day in a shop getting it repaired. the store Manager popped this vid into the tv in the lobby while he re-built the tranny) God works in mysterious ways! |