I really enjoyed this post from Derek
Sivers on taking a year to read the Bible. Even if you aren't a
religious person, there is value in understanding where others come from
(and where, as Sivers points out, western culture originates). He has
two main suggestions: sample translations and then pick something easy
to understand and supplement your reading with the Bible Project; they are both
great suggestions!
For the first, don't just blindly pick a
translation. Read about them, their translation philosophies as well as
academic reviews. Not every translation is the same. For example, while
the Passion Translation likes to call itself a translation, it was
made by one guy who has refused to disclose any sort of translation
committee and adds a healthy dose of pet theologies that aren't in the
original text. The Message is a paraphrase where the author puts
everything into his own words and phrasing (I do like the Message quite
a bit and respect that the author is upfront and honest about what it is
and is not). Personally, I'd recommend the NRSV as
it's pretty straightforward to read, is a good translation with a
published/transparent committee and is used in a lot of academic
resources.
The Bible Project is also a great resource to
help digest what's going on in the text. The team behind it have done a
great job distilling out key themes and plot points that otherwise are
easily lost in such a large and open book.
Ultimately I'll
just say that I've found a lot of value in reading about the cultures
and faiths of people different to me - it really has built understanding
that has allowed me to connect with them from a place of understanding
rather than fear or concern or superiority. If the Bible is different to
you, consider checking out what it actually is (and isn't).