Re:Ask HN: Which books you have read till now that were wort...
by FearNotDaniel on Thursday September 22, 2022 @06:30AM
(#32937010)
I highly recommend the Bible in a Year podcast series from Fr Mike Schmitz [0]. It's very approachable but also gives you enough theology and historical context to get a handle on the 'bigger picture' and how all the parts fit together. You don't have to use the sign-up link below, it's also available anonymously from all the usual podcast providers.
If that's too challenging (he does talk very fast, and there's a lot to take in), an even easier route to follow is Nicky Gumbel's Bible In One Year [1].
Of course, they both come from a believer's perspective - one Catholic, the other evangelical protestant - but after following them you will get a good idea of what adherents claim the Bible is about (i.e. the people for whom it was written) and then you are in a much better position to make sense of any archaeological/literary-analysis approaches to deconstructing it. Also, a visit to any art-history gallery will take on so much more depth because you will understand the stories behind pictures that depict Biblical themes.
If that's too challenging (he does talk very fast, and there's a lot to take in), an even easier route to follow is Nicky Gumbel's Bible In One Year [1].
Of course, they both come from a believer's perspective - one Catholic, the other evangelical protestant - but after following them you will get a good idea of what adherents claim the Bible is about (i.e. the people for whom it was written) and then you are in a much better position to make sense of any archaeological/literary-analysis approaches to deconstructing it. Also, a visit to any art-history gallery will take on so much more depth because you will understand the stories behind pictures that depict Biblical themes.
[0] https://ascensionpress.com/pages/biy-registration
[1] https://bibleinoneyear.org/en/