Not Enjoying Reading Scripture?

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Melodeonist said:
I have read it, and have enjoyed it! 🙂
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Man, I’ve read Lord of the Rings dozens of times. 🙂

For me, I find that not enjoying reading is because I simply don’t read. Then when I pick up a book it is boring. I didn’t read much for a few years a while back.

If I persevere however, it becomes more enjoyable over time. The more I do it the more I like it. The first step is definitely the hardest. Just a page a day is a start, or even just a paragraph. The important thing is to just do it.

That is my experience.

-Tim-
 
TimothyH said:
Man, I’ve read Lord of the Rings dozens of times. 🙂

For me, I find that not enjoying reading is because I simply don’t read. Then when I pick up a book it is boring. I didn’t read much for a few years a while back.

If I persevere however, it becomes more enjoyable over time. The more I do it the more I like it. The first step is definitely the hardest. Just a page a day is a start, or even just a paragraph. The important thing is to just do it.

That is my experience.

-Tim-
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That’s the way to do it. Do it a little at a time everyday. It gets easier and more enjoyable.

It sounds like you enjoy Science Fiction and Fantasy. Try mixing some of that in. It will help develop your reading skills. It engages your mind and that is the key for developing a love of reading. If you go to college, you are going to have to read things that are very dry, and things that you will find fascinating. You need to develop the discipline to get through the dry material. The best way to do it is to develop a love of reading. The more you read, the more you will find ways to get through the things that are not as interesting.

It won’t be long before you discover that reading a good book is a great way to spend a day. You also will realize that the bible is more than the word of God. It also is an interesting story if you can imagine yourself living the words you are reading. (Or at least watching it as you would watch a TV show.) You just have to develop the skill of active reading. It takes time.
 
By the way, I just got done reading the Bible cover to cover for the fifth time.

It takes me about 1.5 years to read the whole thing, just a page or just a paragraph each day. Sometimes I linger and sometimes I read faster, but I read every morning while I eat breakfast.

8 years so far reading daily a little at a time.

-Tim-
 
Melodeonist said:
No matter what, I can never enjoy reading the bible. I personally don’t like reading any books for that matter. I find books kind of boring.

What should I do to make reading the bible more interesting? I have tried meditating on the scripture, but I find that confusing. :confused:
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I love to read. I thank my mom and my dad for that fact (God rest his soul). I like reading the Bible aloud and it makes it much easier. Sometimes it’s hard to read out loud (been reading C.S. Lewis a lot lately and I have to move my lips sometimes so I can remember it better).
 
Perhaps just reading the Mass readings for each day would be the best place to start. They’re usually just one short, digestible story or scene from scripture. And the fact that’s it’s already sorted our for you can make it easy, and the stories follow the liturgical year as well. You can spend as much or as little time thinking about those passages as you want.

You can get them free online: usccb.org/bible/readings/021716.cfm (For today’s readings). You can read just the Gospel, or the Gospel and the First Reading, (and/or Second Reading for Sundays).

As many have mentioned, audio bibles are available and a great resource.

Another thought… Maybe spend some time looking at and contemplating the stained glass artwork at church. Some of the stained glass artwork is of Saints, but many are also scenes from the Gospels. I read once that this originated as a way for the illiterate in the middle ages to look at and experience the Bible passages. I don’t know how historically accurate that is and don’t remember where I read it, but it’s certainly a way they can be used to get some scripture into your life… looking at, contemplating, and praying with artwork of scenes from the Bible. You can use the Ignition contemplation techniques just like when reading…imagining yourself in the artwork, think about what you smell, hear, see, feel. It makes things more interesting, but is also a very powerful way to pray and grow spiritually with the Gospels

…Just some thoughts
 
In my opinion, the best way to read the Bible is to read it in small portions every day, not more than two or three pages at a time. You could try one of the reading schedules where you read it in a whole year a little bit at a time. It’s much easier to read this way.
 
Having a good Bible commentary can also be a great help. I just love the Navarre commentaries. Try getting the one on the Gospel of Matthew and see if it helps.
 
Melodeonist said:
I have read it, and have enjoyed it! 🙂
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So you do enjoy reading!🙂 You just don’t enjoy feeling bored. Maybe the solution is to spend time reading books that capture your imagination and which you enjoy, in order to fortify your reading habits? There’s nothing wrong with cultivating a love of books and literature. It has nothing to do with scripture, but you might try obtaining a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, for instance. It would at least increase your entusiasm for secular books, which might carry over to Catholic books.🤷

Even though this one is slightly annotated, it’s an excellent translation:

amazon.com/Count-Monte-Cristo-Hardcover-Classics/dp/0141392460/
 
Another idea would be to obtain this Bible:

amazon.com/The-Unvarnished-New-Testament-Translation/dp/0933999992

It’s an easy read which I think you would actually enjoy. I think, too, that after conquering this you’d find other translations very easy to get into.

The best Bible, when you down to brass tacks, is the one that you’ll actually read.

If you don’t want to take a chance spending money on it, maybe you could reserve a copy at your library.
 
Melodeonist said:
I’m 18.

I don’t mind reading small bits, but I can’t stand reading whole chapters. It makes me bored.

I do enjoy reading factual books. For example, I like reading books with lots of pictures and not that much text. I also enjoy reading books with very short chapters. 🙂

I am a very visual reader and I like when the books can help you visualize the story with descriptive words.
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I cannot think of any other book that is more factual. Get yourself a picture Bible.
 
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