Anyone interested in a bible reading rainbow?

[Kharisym]

So this would be the format: We agree on a chunk of the bible to read over the course of a week and a half, then we spend the remaining half week discussing it before moving on to the next chunk in order. To participate in the discussion you must be committed to reading with us--no interjections from people who are not actively reading with us.

The whole point of this exercise is to refresh myself on a text that's important to my national culture. I read the bible once already when I was a kid but I remember basically nothing from it.

I think it would also be fun to get a mix of atheists, Christians, and other dispositions in on this project.

I'd also be willing to accept bets on if I suddenly become Christian at the end of it. I think its intensely unlikely that I will.

 

[Rival]

So this would be the format: We agree on a chunk of the bible to read over the course of a week and a half, then we spend the remaining half week discussing it before moving on to the next chunk in order. To participate in the discussion you must be committed to reading with us--no interjections from people who are not actively reading with us.

The whole point of this exercise is to refresh myself on a text that's important to my national culture. I read the bible once already when I was a kid but I remember basically nothing from it.

I think it would also be fun to get a mix of atheists, Christians, and other dispositions in on this project.

I'd also be willing to accept bets on if I suddenly become Christian at the end of it. I think its intensely unlikely that I will.

You could become a Noahide, otherwise.

Which Bible version would it be, or would we pick our own?

It would be interesting that way to look at different translations.

 

[Kharisym]

You could become a Noahide, otherwise.

Which Bible version would it be, or would we pick our own?

It would be interesting that way to look at different translations.

What's a noahide?

I think it'd be simpler if we kept to the same translation. There are *vast* differences between translations and that would seriously limit discussion. I was thinking we'd all agree on a translation once we get everyone together. It'd have to be one we can all access for free--KJV is in public domain, I don't know which other ones are.

 

[Rival]

What's a noahide?

I think it'd be simpler if we kept to the same translation. There are *vast* differences between translations and that would seriously limit discussion. I was thinking we'd all agree on a translation once we get everyone together. It'd have to be one we can all access for free--KJV is in public domain, I don't know which other ones are.

A Noahide is a person who accepts Judaism as true but who is not Jewish.

We could do that and it would be easier.

I thought it would be good to compare why different translators chose different words and how that might impact on theology and meaning. Perhaps we could use KJV as a basis we all read initially and then if anyone has any other versions we could check that alongside it?

 

[Kharisym]

A Noahide is a person who accepts Judaism as true but who is not Jewish.

We could do that and it would be easier.

I thought it would be good to compare why different translators chose different words and how that might impact on theology and meaning. Perhaps we could use KJV as a basis we all read initially and then if anyone has any other versions we could check that alongside it?

Oh god no. lol. I think I could only stomach reading the bible once. Its like, 500 or so pages if you include the translater preface? And in my case, its going to be a challenge getting through it--I've tried before and it just doesn't hold my attention, hence why I'm looking for a group to help me with accountability.

 

[Rival]

Oh god no. lol. I think I could only stomach reading the bible once. Its like, 500 or so pages if you include the translater preface? And in my case, its going to be a challenge getting through it--I've tried before and it just doesn't hold my attention, hence why I'm looking for a group to help me with accountability.

I meant someone who feels inclined could read the passage in another translation and bring his ideas to the others.

But we could just go KJV or whatever else is available if that's easier. Which were you thinking of?

 

[Kharisym]

I meant someone who feels inclined could read the passage in another translation and bring his ideas to the others.

But we could just go KJV or whatever else is available if that's easier. Which were you thinking of?

Oh! Sure, I wouldn't ban alternate sources for extra discussion.

In terms of preferred sources, I would like something that's free, influential, and not a painful read. I doubt all three of those criteria would be met. I have an existing link to a 1611 translation of the KJV: https://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/The-Holy-Bible-King-James-Version.pdf but I'm totally not beholden to that.

 

[Rival]

Oh! Sure, I wouldn't ban alternate sources for extra discussion.

In terms of preferred sources, I would like something that's free, influential, and not a painful read. I doubt all three of those criteria would be met. I have an existing link to a 1611 translation of the KJV: https://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/The-Holy-Bible-King-James-Version.pdf but I'm totally not beholden to that.

I think it would do

 

[Kharisym]

Righto, let's give it a little time to see if anyone else joins up.

 

[Brickjectivity]

You could become a Noahide, otherwise.

Which Bible version would it be, or would we pick our own?

It would be interesting that way to look at different translations.

I think it needs to be in a part of the forum that allow moderaters to keep interlopers out. Perhaps one on one debates would work?

 

[Rival]

I think it needs to be in a part of the forum that allow moderaters to keep interlopers out. Perhaps one on one debates would work?

I think that would work.

 

[Windwalker]

It'd have to be one we can all access for free--KJV is in public domain, I don't know which other ones are.

Both Bible Gateway and Bible Hub have all the different translations you can choose from for free.

Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 1 - King James Version

Genesis 1 NIV

 

[JDMS]

Oh god no. lol. I think I could only stomach reading the bible once. Its like, 500 or so pages if you include the translater preface?

Hah! Try 1,200 pages, on average! Yeah....... very long book

 

[Rival]

Are we using the Catholic canon?

 

[Kharisym]

Are we using the Catholic canon?

I dunno what that is!

 

[Rival]

I dunno what that is!

The Catholic Bible has 7 more books than the Protestant one; these are included in the KJV in the middle of the two testaments. This would have been the Bible as understood by anyone pre-1500, with Orthodox Christians having even more books.

 

[Kharisym]

Hah! Try 1,200 pages, on average! Yeah....... very long book

I can pound down 1200 pages easy with some good scifi, and with research papers I can do like, 50 pages before I begin to suffer (keep in mind, research papers require multiple readings! And note taking, and jumping around. Plus researching authors, journal validity, influence scores, citations... its a whole ordeal).

But when it comes to nonfiction or religious texts I just find it so hard to hold my interest.

 

[Rival]

I can pound down 1200 pages easy with some good scifi, and with research papers I can do like, 50 pages before I begin to suffer (keep in mind, research papers require multiple readings! And note taking, and jumping around. Plus researching authors, journal validity, influence scores, citations... its a whole ordeal).

But when it comes to nonfiction or religious texts I just find it so hard to hold my interest.

The historical books can be quite good. They're very dramatic and intriguing. There's lots of stories, interpersonal conflict etc. They kept me gripped in the ESV translation.

 

[SalixIncendium]

A Bible reading rainbow?! I didn’t even know rainbows could read!!

I’ll take it!!

 

[Kharisym]

Yay! It sounds like we've got 4 book nerds! This afternoon, est, we can start talking about the details. What version, how long between discussion sections, what forum should we used, should we skip the translator prefaces, etc.