Is the Bible required reading before tackling most Western literature?

Sort of. But the problem is that, unlike works such as the Iliad, trying to read the Bible just as literature makes you miss a lot of the point.

>>7685388
You have to read the Gospels too.

>see a book
>find out if it's heavily influenced by the bible
>find out which passages
>read those relevant sections
does that cure your autism?

>>7685388
If you read it you can use Barth Ehrman's introduction to the New Testament (http://bookzz.org/book/1106739/cf6560) as well as the two Yale Courses and their reading materials to go along with it.

http://oyc.yale.edu/religious-studies

If you want to approach it from a faith based aspect the course "Jesus and the Gospels" from the teaching company (taught by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Timothy_Johnson) approaches the gospels from a theist point of study.

>>7685392
Be aware of Constantine's strong Orthodoxy and rejection of historical critical methodology.

>>7685750
that course is a waste of time for anyone who is only interested in reading the bible for its impact on literature. he literally says that in the first lecture. it's if you're interested in the historical period of the bible and early christianity.

>>7685388
You fell for a meme.

>>7686217
>waste of time
This board is a waste of time. That course is informative and gives you great analysis of the new testament.

>>7685724
>wanting to understand books is autism

>>7685392
Why? It's referenced a lot in other literature, not necessarily religious lit.

>>7688005
That may be true, but it was never designed to be simply read through like it was a novel or something similar. That's probably what he's getting at anyway.