bopot

"While a believer/non-believer" means at the time you read it/them, regardless of where you stand today.

(Apologies if this is the wrong sub-forum for this poll.)

Alethea

Yes, while a non-believer; I'd recommend it.

I have read Bible in its entirety, line by line, 'only' once, in a conscious attempt to be sure I would read all of it (prior to that I have been reading only some excerpts, prophets and Torah). It took me nearly three months of everyday reading, but I was proud as hell when I finished it. Other than that particular time, I have been reading and re-reading certain parts of Bible, mainly from OT; and I have gone through most of NT in original as a part of Greek lessons (attended 'classical' high school).

I have read Qur'an twice in its entirety (ironically, both times before I did so with the Bible), which I had to for a project for Ethics / Comp. Rel. class I was taking in high school, and for the thesis I had to write after that. Still, I don't feel comfortable with discussing it, I was 15 at the time, didn't go as in-depth as I'd go today (at the time I was more concerned about quantity than the quality of that reading, sadly, and didn't take the class seriously enough - it was one of the 'easy As'), so even though I technically read it, I wouldn't say I'm familiar with it.

I have also read parts of Talmud, but seriously only parts of (the entire Talmud is huge, as you know) - I had an edition of maybe 500 pages of most important discussions. I still wish to read it entirely one day.

And I've read quite a few of theology textbooks, criticism and stuff of the kind, but only for Judaism and Orthodox Christianity (one or two for Islam, whilst taking that class, nothing overly serious), but those aren't first-hand materials so I won't mention those.

I'd recommend it. It's part of general knowledge, for one; and you need to know what you talk about, for two. I'd feel extremely uncomfortable talking about - and especially against - things I've no clue about.

Solitary Man

What about both while a believer and a non-believer, and wouldn't recommend it, unless that sort of thing interests you (as it does me)?

makerowner

I chose "No, but I intend to", but I have read most of the texts in question. I've read the Koran and NT straight through, and almost all of the OT (still working on the minor prophets). I haven't read any of the Talmud, but I intend to at some point.

Splarnst

I read the whole bible when I was a believer. I read the gospels several times.

bopot

I considered that possibility, but figured I'd keep the poll as simple as possible and let the respondent decide which reading to refer to in their response.

bopot

Incidentally, does anyone think it is poor form to respond to one's own poll? I decided not to.

XKV8R

ot - yes, in hebrew and aramaic
nt - yes, in greek
q - yes, but only in english (so i feel inadequate to discuss it)

Splarnst

I always vote in mine. I have an opinion, too.