Any faster way to learn about Christianity without reading the bible?

Question

I wanted to learn about Christianity: the characters in the religion, the major occurrences but I have tried reading the bible and I find it very laborious and cumbersome to read...I want to know all about the saints and things like that...Mark, Mathew, etc...Are there any videos or fast reading books you might recommend? (If you don't think there is a faster way, please don't respond, I will just ignore your response because I am looking for a faster way, not an answer that says there is no faster way)

I mostly don't feel like reading the book, I got through genesis and then decided the writing sucks. It reads like VCR instructions.

And no, I am not christian, or muslim, or buddhist, or jewish, or an athiest, or agnostic...

Answer 1

http://www.thebricktestament.com/

Answer 2

"There are complete audio recordings of the bible at most book stores. They are very good for people with bad eyes and poor readers. I believe they would be excellent for you. I'm an Atheist why am I telling you this? "

Betty Boop, you are too funny! LOL. So Christian of you! See, everyone? Atheists are nice, helpful people too!

I had the same problem but I got all the way to Moses - beat you, hahaha! If you read a 'simplified' kid's version, I think you miss out on the part where that guy was prostituting his wife to some pharoh, and the part where the daughters have sex with their dad - all good stuff! Heck, the collected works of Shakespeare is about as long as the bible and even though some parts are more entertaining, it takes a looonnng time to read all of that too! LOL. I feel for ya, but really, you need to just keep going & read it all. Meanwhile, I'm going out to get those tapes...

Answer 3

Maybe you need a differnt Bible. NIV or something like that.

It also sounds like you want to learn about Orthodox religions, such as Catholicsm, rather than generic Christianity.

You seem more interested in the Non-Jesus people and rituals.

That ain't what Christianity is about. That's what service at the Altar is about. That's religious tradition. That's learning all the secret handshakes and owning a decoder ring.

I'll give you the rules quickly, but the concise approach will not sound all that wonderful to you.

You're supposed to get married and to only one person (unless they die naturally) and never set them aside unless they cheat on you and be one with them and be fruitful and multiply

You are supposed to live a spartan life.

You are supposed to become an artisan at more than one thing.

You are supposed to buy a sword, learn how to use it better than anyone else, then never use it to harm so much as a hair on a person's head. It's about putting the fear of God into you opponant and not being a martyr.

You are supposed to go out in the world with nothing in your pockets and minister as Jesus did.

You need to be fearless, well learned, open minded enough to minister and tend to people like HIV patients without fear you'll catch the cooties

You are supposed to ask for what you need.

Now, here's my big example of the way of Jesus and Christianity.

You come to a house with an old woman and ask if you can have a drink of water and she mutters you can use the hose which hasn't seen use in ages and all the plants are dying.

So you take a drink and then in payment you trim the hedges, cut the grass, water the grass, take out the trash, do the front and back yard, sweep up, rake the leaves, trim off the dead leaves.

After this you can leave, having paid for your drink of water from the hose.

If by some reason she invites you inside or brings you something extra and asks why you did these things, you can try and tell her about your life with Jesus, if you want to and are skilled at talking about it, and how he taught you to do those things.

Then you can go on your way.

Ministry can be verbal or non verbal. Non verbal is best. Jesus was often very non verbal. He was a man of action and deeds, not a preacher or orator, although he could talk circles around the most learned religious men.

Christianity is about what you do in life.

Love your neighbor like you love yourself. Love your enemy the most. Put God above your Mother, Father, Son and Daughter. If struck on the right cheek, don't get mad, draw your sword and do them in, turn your head and offer them the left cheek.

Don't expect rewards, now or later. The reward is in the doing.

Eventually you are supposed to be baptized in water when you are ready to accept the Holy Spirt.

You also accept Jesus as the Son of God and savior of all man kind from the sins of the past.

Being a Christian is not easy.

If you succeed at this, you are considered to be Born Again and living life a new in the spirit of Jesus.

Being religious is a lot eaiser to do. You just have to learn the secret handshakes.

Answer 4

Without knowing your motivation, it's difficult to understand exactly what you would be happy with.

Do you want to get the chronology of the Bible straight? Do you just want to know who the major players are and how they fit in? Are you looking for some cultural currency so you can discuss the Bible intellegently when the topic comes up? Do you want to know things about the Bible that nobody else knows?

Are you even a Christian?

Unless the Holy Spirit guides you in your reading of scriptures, you can get the history alright, but you won't understand the spiritual aspects.

For a simple chronology, just remember God does everything according to the pattern of his throne. Four living creatures with God in the center. Man, ox, eagle, lion with God in the center.

Earth was created in four parts, divided by four rivers (Gen 2). Adam was placed in the center. There's the pattern. In this way, Adam was created "in the image of God". Well, until he sinned.

Four eons of time are appointed to this creation. Each begins with a patriarch born from something that can't produce life. Each had an appointement with death, but lived to tell about it.
Adam is the patriarch of the first epoch which ended with the confusion of the language and the scattering at Babel.
Isaac is the patriarch of the second epoch which ended with the destruction of the Jewish temple and the scattering of Israel.
Jesus is the patriarch of those "born from above" and will end with the departure of the faithful at the last trump.
Emmanuel (the first begotten from the dead) will be the last and final patriarch of the Kingdom Age.
In the center of these four is the resurrection and glorification of God's only begotten son. The pattern is thus complete with God at the center.

Using this chronological framework makes it easy to organize the various bible stories.
Noah's flood was the judgment on the house of Adam, thus it occurred a few hundred years prior to Babel.
The Babylonian captivity was the judgment upon Israel, so it occurred a few hundred years prior to the destruction of Jerusalem and the scattering of the Jewish people.
The judgments of Revelation are in progress now at the end of this third age, and . . .
There will be a time at the end of the Kingdom Age when Satan is released from chains to foment a rebellion against the King of kings and Lord of lords. This results in the destruction of the present heavens and earth, and a new heavens and a new earth will replace it.

Answer 5

Bibles are 39 Books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New. On the front of every book there is a summary in most Bibles outlining the purpose, author and contents of each book with highlights noted. Rip through all the cover pages of the books and you will get the heart of it very quickly. Then you can go back and read in detail anything that interests you.

Answer 6

Being a born again Christian is not a religion my friend. It all depends on what exactly is your objective.

In order to understand, you have to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ who provides you with the Holy Spirit to lead you and give you understanding.

This is why you find the Bible laborious and cumbersome - because you do not have the help of the Holy Spirit.

I know this is not the answer you wanted, but I would need to know your objective to be able to answer you properly.

Answer 7

"Handbook For Today's Catholic" by Liquori Press, is a small booklet about 110 pages. You can buy it at any Christian Book store. Or St. Anthony Press on the Internet has "Catholic Updates." Both are excellent sources. If you want another longer way, the RCIA or Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is offered in most parishes. Just give your local rectory a call. It is usually weekly meetings for those interested in joining or rejoinig the Catholic Church.

Answer 8

A lot of what is in the Bible is common sense.
I you do a few bible studys with a few life groups after a while you
kind of get a Idea of what sort of person Jesus is and how God thinks & how they want you to act as a christian even without reading the whole bible.

Answer 9

there is a faster way ... READ the Holy Quran ..

Jesus and Christianity were mentioned in the Quran more than 10 times.

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(Remember) when the angels said, “O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him (God), whose name is the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, revered in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (to God). He will speak to the people from his cradle and as a man, and he is of the righteous.” She said, “My Lord, how can I have a child when no mortal has touched me?” He said, “So (it will be). God creates what He wills. If He decrees a thing, He says to it only, ‘Be!’ and it is.” (Quran, 3:45-47)

Jesus was born miraculously by the command of God, the same command that had brought Adam into being with neither a father nor a mother. God has said:

The case of Jesus with God is like the case of Adam. He created him from dust, and then He said to him, “Be!” and he came into being. (Quran, 3:59)

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Answer 10

There are bible based books which summarizes the teachings but it also takes time. I recommend "What does the Bible Really Teach?" Its a 165 page book.

“This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3)

To know about God and Jesus is to learn it from the Bible. And it is a continuous learning process.

Answer 11

Get this: to learn about Christianity you not only have to read the Bible time and time again, you have to live it. Live a Christian life.
I know, sometimes I also find the Bible REALLY boring.
Sorry, there isn't a faster way.