Five years ago I had never once believed in God, not even as a child. All my life I was a content atheist; it was simply obvious to me that God did not exist. I thought that religion and reason were incompatible, and eventually became vocally anti-Christian. In 2005 I began to have doubts about atheism and started this blog to ask questions of believers. Long story short, I blogged my way from lifelong atheism to Catholicism (my husband and I both entered the Catholic Church in 2007). I now write about faith after atheism. Welcome to my blog, I'm glad you're here!
Four pages a day
Last Monday in RCIA we read a few passages from the Bible and I was reminded of how very little I know about the New Testament. I've done enough research on Jesus that I know the basics about his life and know a decent amount about the historical, mostly non-Biblical evidence that supports Christian claims, but I know very few of the New Testament stories that most people know.
I got a wild idea that night in RCIA that I'm going to read the New Testament cover to cover over the next few months. I turn 30 early next year and would love to sneak in one last accomplishment before that milestone. I feel like this is important for me. I was so sheltered from Christian teaching growing up that I have almost no familiarity with scripture. Obviously I don't think I need to read it so that I can come up with my own take on what God wants of us, I think the Church has that covered, but I'd just like to know what the thing says.
I put together an Excel spreadsheet to keep myself on track (few events in my life escape quantification in Excel) and realized that at four pages per day I could actually finish on Christmas Day, an appropriate milestone that also gives me leeway before my birthday in case I fall behind.
For some reason it's really important to me to do this, maybe to make up for all those hours that everyone else has spent in Vacation Bible School and Sunday School. :) Wish me luck.
I got a wild idea that night in RCIA that I'm going to read the New Testament cover to cover over the next few months. I turn 30 early next year and would love to sneak in one last accomplishment before that milestone. I feel like this is important for me. I was so sheltered from Christian teaching growing up that I have almost no familiarity with scripture. Obviously I don't think I need to read it so that I can come up with my own take on what God wants of us, I think the Church has that covered, but I'd just like to know what the thing says.
I put together an Excel spreadsheet to keep myself on track (few events in my life escape quantification in Excel) and realized that at four pages per day I could actually finish on Christmas Day, an appropriate milestone that also gives me leeway before my birthday in case I fall behind.
For some reason it's really important to me to do this, maybe to make up for all those hours that everyone else has spent in Vacation Bible School and Sunday School. :) Wish me luck.
Labels: Background
Posted on
Saturday, October 14, 2006
at 8:31 PM | Permalink
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5 Comments:
but I'd just like to know what the thing says.
I don't know why, but this part had me giggling. That's a good reason!
Saint Jerome said that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. And seeing that our Church is founded on Scripture and Tradition, it's good to know Scripture!
So woohoo for you doing this and I hope you stay on track! It'd be great if you finished in time!
Another very powerful thing to do is to read one of the Gospels in one sitting. This is fairly easy to do with Mark since it is the shortest.
Good luck. Take heart in the knowledge that a lot of Catholics don't have the Scriptural knowledge that our Protestant brothers and sisters in Christ have. We can all always keep reading and keep learning.
Just a word of advice ... I'd recommend starting with the New Testament. It's shorter and an easier read. The Old Testament can be difficult to read once you get past Exodus.
I have started reading The Bible for the same reasons as you! I started with the Old Testament though. It is hard getting through Exodus and Leviticus with all the laws... I slowed way down after that... In fact I need to get back to reading again! You have inspired me!
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