Speaker 1
I love to read. I love animals. I am a really kind person. My mom is a doctor. My dad is a fireman.
Speaker 2
I walk instead of drive to work. I live in the city. I read a novel a week. My favorite exercise is pilates. I have one brother.
Speaker 1
I am from texas. I have a mother who is a doctor. I care for animals.  I have a father he is a fireman. I have no siblings. I read.
Speaker 2
I live in a city. I read and do pilates. I read novels. I have a brother. I walk to work.
Speaker 1
Hello, I want to help all the animals who are suffering.
Speaker 2
Hi! That's great! Where are you from?
Speaker 1
I am from texas, my mom got a job here as a doctor.
Speaker 2
Wow, nice! I live in the heart of the city.
Speaker 1
Cool, and urban dweller, what do you do for fun?
Speaker 2
I like to read and do pilates when I have the chance. You?
Speaker 1
I love taking care of animals that my dad finds, he is a fireman.
Speaker 2
That's great that you're near family. I only have a single brother. No sisters.
Speaker 1
I don't have any sisters or brothers, just my paretns.
Speaker 2
I see. I like to walk to work instead of driving so I see animals.
Speaker 1
That is so cool, you must be a kind person.
Speaker 2
Thank you! I think the pilates helps my mood- it keeps me grounded.
Speaker 1
That is true! Reading keeps me grounded.
Speaker 2
Reading novels is my favorite. I shoot for one per week!
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Speaker 1
I am from texas. I have a mother who is a doctor. I care for animals.  I have a father he is a fireman. I have no siblings. I read.
Speaker 2
I live in a city. I read and do pilates. I read novels. I have a brother. I walk to work.
Speaker 1
Well, tell me what new novel have you started this week?
Speaker 2
I actually ended up reading the Bible this week, starting out in Genesis. Have you ever read it?
Speaker 1
I've read part of it. Once I also thought I'd read it straight through starting from Genesis. I didn't get too far before the stories got so violent I was grossed out and put it down forever. Have you ever read the non-canon books?
Speaker 2
I've read some of Enoch but I don't really have any interest in them. I haven't found the Bible too gross. The movies on TV are worse lol
Speaker 1
I disagree completely! How far did you get? I was going to tell you bring up the grossest one I read, the one that made me question why people would follow that religion, but I don't want to spoil anything for you! I read the Gospel of Judas. I want to read the Book of Enoch next. Honestly, I felt like the Gospel of Judas made the whole thing make a lot more sense. It really helped me understand and have perspective on these super violent stories!
Speaker 2
I've read bits and pieces over time, so spoil away! This week I got to Kings. I think there's a lot of thing that have strengthened my faith through reading the Bible. There's so many valuable lessons to be found its an endless source of wisdom. I guess I'll consider reading Judas, but I always like to look into background information about the books first. Thanks for the idea. 
Speaker 1
I agree, it is very important to look into the background of the books. I've been watching a lot of youtube videos tracing the original writer of each of the New Testament (Canon) books. So, I take those histories with a grain of salt. I don't know how many people are fact checking on YouTube. I think the Gospel of Judas was found with the dead sea scrolls. But then, did you hear about the Gospel of Mary?
Speaker 2
Yes I have. Haven't read it though. I'd like to get a copy of that book the Dead Sea Scrolls. Have you read that? I'm curious what kind of information they have in there.
Speaker 1
I'm pretty positive the Gospel of Judas was one of the scrolls found in that cave. I don't know about the book of Enoch or the Gospel of Mary. But the Gospel of Mary is very short. It's not actually written by a Mary. It's just a scrap of scroll that says something about Mary, Jesus' betrothed, or some other word meaning his beloved wife! Wouldn't that shake the world! But it turned out to be a forgery.
Speaker 2
haha Yeah that's not surprising. Jesus is God in physical form so He wouldn't take a human wife. That's like marrying your own children which is straight up Deuteronomy/Leviticus unbiblical. 
Speaker 1
Hahahaha!! That was an excellent joke! The laws reference was on point. I enjoyed it very much. Which is your favorite Bible book so far?
Speaker 2
Honestly its so hard to narrow it down. The epicness of God bringing Moses and his people out of Egypt through walls of water, marching around Jericho to make a city crumble, oh and how did I almost forget the flood. Like literally God being so frustrated with humanity being like little children who won't obey the rules so he's like you're all done--but then God creates Noah because He knows all this will take place and Noah and his family become redeemers for the entire planet. The miracles and wonders of God put me in awe when I read them. 
7 days
Speaker 1
I am from texas. I have a mother who is a doctor. I care for animals.  I have a father he is a fireman. I have no siblings. I have read part of the Bible, starting with Genesis, but found the stories to be too violent. I don't understand why people follow the Bible. I have read the Gospel of Judas. I want to read the Book of Enoch. I am almost positive the Gospel of Judas was found on a scroll in the Dead Sea. I think it is important to read about the background of books. I watch Youtube videos that trace the original writers of the Canon books. I don't think people fact check Youtube.
Speaker 2
I live in a city. I read and do pilates. I read novels. I have a brother. I walk to work. I am reading the Bible this week, starting with Genesis. I am not interested in non-canon books, like the Enoch. I think movies on TV are more violent than the Bible. I am going to read Kings this week. I find that my faith is strengthened through the Bible because it is an endless source of wisdom. I like to look at the background of books before reading them. I have heard about the Gospel of Mary. I would like copies of the books that were found on the Dead Sea scrolls. I am in awe of the miracles of God.
Speaker 1
Did you grow up in a religious family or was religion something you found later in life?
Speaker 2
I grew up religious but as I got older I learned more how to find things that really spoke to me instead of just parroting my parents' beliefs. what about you?
Speaker 1
That's really inspiring. I enjoy studying the Bible but I'm not religious myself.
Speaker 2
what sorts of things do you learn from the bible / bible study?
Speaker 1
I find them interesting in an almost historical sense - why people follow certain religious ideas, for example
Speaker 2
agreed. I think that's really fascinating. and there's so much about the bible that we are still learning even all these years later -- missing gospels, etc. do you have any particular aspects of bible study that have been surprising to you?
Speaker 1
I agree! Sometimes I find a lot of the violent parts surprising, a lot of the Old Testament is hard to read for this reason. What about you, do you find yourself reading the Bible a lot these days?
Speaker 2
I recently read a book called The Gospel of Mary which was like, a reinvention of the new testaments and it was so beautiful and so sad. it really made me think.
Speaker 1
That sounds fascinating, I haven't read that one yet. Do you read a lot of books?
Speaker 2
I do! I love to read. it's one of my favorite hobbies. this year i've read a ton about buddhism.
Speaker 1
Ah, that sounds interesting! Do you prefer to read about religions?
Speaker 2
not always. I love novels, too. but certain types of spiritual texts are really interesting in that you can sort of see how the world has been shaped according to who believes what. and it also helps me reflect on myself.
11 days
Speaker 1
I am from texas. I have a mother who is a doctor. I care for animals.  I have a father he is a fireman. I have no siblings. I have read part of the Bible, starting with Genesis, but found the stories to be too violent. I don't understand why people follow the Bible. I have read the Gospel of Judas. I want to read the Book of Enoch. I am almost positive the Gospel of Judas was found on a scroll in the Dead Sea. I think it is important to read about the background of books. I watch Youtube videos that trace the original writers of the Canon books. I don't think people fact check Youtube. I am not religious. I like the historical context behind the bible. I find it difficult to read the old testament due to the violence.
Speaker 2
I live in a city. I read and do pilates. I read novels. I have a brother. I walk to work. I am reading the Bible this week, starting with Genesis. I am not interested in non-canon books, like the Enoch. I think movies on TV are more violent than the Bible. I am going to read Kings this week. I find that my faith is strengthened through the Bible because it is an endless source of wisdom. I like to look at the background of books before reading them. I have heard about the Gospel of Mary. I would like copies of the books that were found on the Dead Sea scrolls. I am in awe of the miracles of God. I grew up religious. I found different religious beliefs as I got older. I recently read a book called Gospel of Mary. One of my favorite hobbies is to read. I have read a ton about buddhism this year. I like to read novels. I enjoy reading spiritual texts because it shows how the world has been shaped and for self reflection.
Speaker 1
I read this really cool novel that I think you would really like. 
Speaker 2
Oh, neat.  Tell me about it.
Speaker 1
Parable of the Sower. Have you heard of it? It's quite spiritual.
Speaker 2
No, I've never heard of it.  Who's it by and what's it about?
Speaker 1
Octavia Butler is the author, and I don't want to give away too much, but it's kind of an apocalypse story. But a hopeful one!
Speaker 2
That sounds interesting.  I'll definitely look it up and give it a try.  A hopeful apocalypse story sounds like it could be really fascinating.
Speaker 1
I think you'll love it. As I said, it's very spiritual, and although of course it has a lot of death and violence because of the genre, the theme is really original.
Speaker 2
It does sound intriguing.  Where did you hear about it?
Speaker 1
Someone recommended it on Twitter a long time ago but I'm just getting around to reading it recently. Glad I remembered to look it up.
Speaker 2
Was it someone on Twitter that you know personally or just a random tweet that caught your attention?  I've never really paid attention to suggestions online from people I don't know decently.
Speaker 1
It was a celebrity, if I recall correctly. Might have been John Green. Seems like the kind of thing he would like.
Speaker 2
That's interesting.  Well if I end up liking this book I might start paying attention to other things that John Green recommends.
16 days
Speaker 1
I am from texas. I have a mother who is a doctor. I care for animals.  I have a father he is a fireman. I have no siblings. I have read part of the Bible, starting with Genesis, but found the stories to be too violent. I don't understand why people follow the Bible. I have read the Gospel of Judas. I want to read the Book of Enoch. I am almost positive the Gospel of Judas was found on a scroll in the Dead Sea. I think it is important to read about the background of books. I watch Youtube videos that trace the original writers of the Canon books. I don't think people fact check Youtube. I am not religious. I like the historical context behind the bible. I find it difficult to read the old testament due to the violence. I read Parable of the Sower. I read apocalypse stories. I like spiritual books. I follow celebrities on Twitter. I follow John Green on Twitter.
Speaker 2
I live in a city. I read and do pilates. I read novels. I have a brother. I walk to work. I am reading the Bible this week, starting with Genesis. I am not interested in non-canon books, like the Enoch. I think movies on TV are more violent than the Bible. I am going to read Kings this week. I find that my faith is strengthened through the Bible because it is an endless source of wisdom. I like to look at the background of books before reading them. I have heard about the Gospel of Mary. I would like copies of the books that were found on the Dead Sea scrolls. I am in awe of the miracles of God. I grew up religious. I found different religious beliefs as I got older. I recently read a book called Gospel of Mary. One of my favorite hobbies is to read. I have read a ton about buddhism this year. I like to read novels. I enjoy reading spiritual texts because it shows how the world has been shaped and for self reflection. I have never heard of Parable of the Sower. I like apocalypse stories. I will read Parable of the Sower. I like spiritual novels. I don't pay attention to online suggestions from people I don't really know.
Speaker 1
I started reading the Book of Enoch. It is very confusing, I think it will take me a while to finish it. 
Speaker 2
I think that once you get into it, it will flow a little better; the explanation of the Genesis flood is particularly interesting.
Speaker 1
I'm glad to hear it! A story about so much death should have a good explanation.  Have you changed your mind about the book of Enoch?
Speaker 2
After we talked a little over a week ago, I decided to give it another shot. Still not my favorite, but I do admit that there were some thought-provoking ideas. I read through it pretty quickly, so I will probably reread in a few weeks after I feel like it's sunk in a bit.
Speaker 1
That sounds like a good idea.  It's always good to read something through quickly once, to get the general idea, and then again slower to focus on details.
Speaker 2
How far have you made it through Enoch?
Speaker 1
I've made it about a third of the way through.  I hope to find some youtube videos that will help me understand what I'm reading.
Speaker 2
Sometimes when I feel stuck, I try to look up a video or some audio of someone else reading out loud and then I follow along with them. Do you think that's something that might help?
Speaker 1
That might be helpful.  Another helpful thing is to look at multiple translations of the same passage or to check footnotes and cross-references.
Speaker 2
After taking you advice and reading Enoch, I've decided to start a new personal goal of being more open-minded. Do you have any other suggestions for books that I might like?
Speaker 1
If you are interested in the Dead Sea Scrolls, you might enjoy the Gospel of Judas. I have read that one and thought it was enlightening.
Speaker 2
I'll add it to my Kindle right away! What was your favorite part?
17 days