TLDR; what version of the Bible do you use, and why?
I grew up Mormon, we used the King's James version of the Bible, along with the Book of Mormon, created by Joseph Smith, who we considered a prophet. Around the age of 16, when looking into things I really did not buy it anymore (see the CES letter if interested), and essentially became atheist.
As time went on, I've seen more and more spiritual things come into my life both personally, and through politics. Q references the bible as well. I am much more open to it now, and consider myself more agnostic. I really want to revisit this, and read it in it's entirety, but I know there are multiple versions, and I know about all sorts of BS with translations and including and excluding certain books.
So looking for advice of which version to read. If you have a suggestion, I would very much be interested in why.. Why do you hold version X above any version A, B, C.. And hey, maybe the different versions are not all that different, I don't know. I read the King James version as a kid and remember only fragments.
I think at the moment, I am most interested in reading the "Septuagint Bible", being that it is used by Orthodox Christians, which I just happen to be pulled more towards that direction. (Catholicism, to me, seems corrupted, I think the pope is evil, but I very well could be wrong about that, and even if that's true it does not mean their bible is wrong)
If you think you can save me some time in researching this, I would appreciate your insight very much. If not, then I guess I'll go with my original plan, but thanks anyways for just reading this.
It's a long book fren and the quest of knowing a big God is fulfilling only as long as you continue to pursue Him. I want to encourage you to pursue the reading and add to that finding real life frens to journey with you. We were made for fellowship with Him and each other. I suggest an ESV, HCSB, NKJV, or NASB and a NLT to balance a more litteral translation theory with a more dynamic equivilant. Take one book of the Bible, I suggest the Gospel of John, and try to get familiar with it's content and story line. Try to understand Jesus through His own words. Read large sections in the one translation then the other. The goal being to get the content into your mind and to start seeing in life how God consistently acts today as He did then and to know Him. A consistent paused time out of life to pray and read is going to help greatly. Make time to meet with God. Eventually, get a Geneva Bible and a KJV and compare. The best would be to learn Greek and Hebrew and study the 26,000+ pieces of centuries old manuscripts but take it one step at a time. May God bless your desire fren!