Full disclosure – These are my suggestions, not some hard or fast rule. I don’t come from any of these traditions, so these are the suggestions for people who are not within the fold, but are interested in learning more. For that reason, this list does not represent the entirety of holy books for the traditions, but provides a widow into each. Furthermore, I prefer modern and clear translations of texts, will opt for annotations, and like a more comprehensive tome of writings. If this doesn’t sound like you then my suggestions will probably not be the best. I find that these things make understanding, considering, and evaluating texts easier, but if you have another opinion feel free to write in and make your own suggestions
The Bible (Christianity) – The Bible differs depending on the denomination you are looking for (as well as lots of other preferences)
Protestant – I would recommend the NIV (The New International Version). It is really a standard and provides a pretty good balance between preserving meaning and providing a word for word translation. The 2011 edition has my favorite footnotes and it gives what I think is important additional information and context.
Catholic – The edition that I use most is The New American Bible (Saint Joseph Edition). I find the style very readable and the information (including maps and explanatory footnotes) is helpful for those anyone who has never read the bible or anyone who is interested in a fuller understanding of the passages.
The Dead Sea Scrolls – I would advocate reading the Dead Sea scrolls if you are inclined to that sort of thing. Not only is it an interesting read, but it gives context to both the development of Judaism and Christianity. There was quite a bit of controversy from the time they were found to the 90’s, both about the translations and publications of the findings, I have one of the early editions published in 1956, but there is less variety here than will texts that have been in circulation longer. The copy that has been digitized by google is quite good, as is (if you want something hard-copy) is The Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation, by Michael O. Wise, Martin G. Abegg, and Edward M. Cook.
Tanakh (Judaism) – Even if you don’t want to read both the Old Testament and the Tanakh all the way through on their own, it is important to understand the differences between them, both in translation, books, and order of books. Even though I don’t speak a lick of Hebrew, I would still recommend getting a copy with Hebrew and English, and interlinear one if you can find it. A lot of information is lost between Hebrew and English, and this helps to decrease the gap between them. Commentary should be done by Rabbinical Scholars. The Hebrew Interlinear Bible online is a pretty good option. Interlinear physical books tend to get expensive, but the Jps Hebrew-English Tanakh Bible works fine.
Talmud (Judaism) – The Talmud is how the Tanakh is interpreted now and in the past, written by Rabbis and Wise Men through history. Once again, I would tend to suggest an interlinear option. If not, the Jewish Virtual Library has a good online one.
Qur’an (Islam) – Like all of the large religious texts, there are lots of competing translations and editions. Like the Tanakh, an interlinear option is good, with the Holy Qur’an Arabic Text and English Translation translated by Maulawi Sher ‘Ali. It has alternative translations as well as some commentary. If you are looking for a simpler read use the edition I started on, which is the Quran: A New Translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem. It doesn’t have a whole lot of commentary, but the introduction is quite good and the language is very clear.
The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) – These books are rarely in short supply. What I will say is that you will want to make sure to get a copy with all three books in it. The Church regulates the holy books pretty closely so the only question is the age of the copy. My copy is from 1981, but I would suggest going with a new one. Ask your friendly neighborhood Mormon. They will be happy to give you one.
Science and Health with Key to the Scripture by Mary Baker Eddy (Church of Christ, Scientist) – This is the “textbook” for Christian Scientists written by the movement’s founder Mary Baker Eddy. While editions from the 19th century are interesting from a historical perspective (and probably pretty pricy) no changes have been made since 1910, so it doesn’t really matter. All copies are closely controlled by the church, so there aren’t different versions that diverge from Eddy’s original teachings.
Rig Veda (Hinduism) – Hindu texts are unsurprisingly varied, complex, and carry thousands of years of context and oral tradition. To take a step into this world, I would recommend The Rig Veda translated by Wendy Doniger. It is not the text in its entirety (which is composed of ten books) but is a selection that both translates fairly well into English and provides a gateway into the tradition.
Sirmad Bahavatam - also called Bhagavata Purna (Hinduism and Jainism) This is the devotional text glorifying Krishna as an incarnation of Vishnu. It is one of eighteen such Purnas, but this one in particular I found pretty accessible. A good translation with commentary and some of the original Sanskrit is by His Divine Grace A.S. Bhaktivedanta Swami
The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh and the Buddhavacana (Buddhism) Like Hinduism, there is a large and varied cannon for Buddhism that depends on the tradition, geographic area, and time period. For someone just starting out, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching by Thich Nhat brings many of the core teachings to light in an accessible way. If you want to get a bit more in depth, the Buddhavacana is the collection of sayings and teachings attributed to Buddha. Obviously translated after being written down from oral tradition, what is included in this grouping also varies depending on the tradition. To get started, I would suggest going to http://www.buddha-vacana.org/ which gives you a broader introduction into these texts.
Baha’i World Faith (Bah’ai) – This book contains selected works of Baha’ullah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha, the two important teachers that followed the Bab, founder of the movement. This is a great work for those who need an introduction into the faith, as it covers the core principles, spiritual ideals, and questions that someone might have. The Baha’i Library Online has the text in its entirety.
Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health and Scientology: Fundamentals of Thought by L. Ron Hubbard (Scientology) – L. Ron Hubbard was a prolific writer, both outside and within his own movement. Dianetics is the foundational book where Hubbard outlines the technology that will form Scientology. Scientology: Fundamentals of Thought (written a few years later) lays the groundwork of the movement. It is important to take a look at the publishing dates for these books, as they changed in 2007 (called the Golden Age of Tech Phase ii) to fix reported mistakes in the texts. Either side of this line is interesting, but do make sure you know which phase you are getting.
The Book of the Law by Aleister Crowley (Ordo Templi Orientis) – While not the founder of the OTO, Aleister Crowley is certainly a huge figure in the movement. His writings (which he says were dictated to him by a powerful force) form the backbone of OTO teachings. The best option is to get a copy that has not only the text, but Crowley’s commentary, as this helps quite a bit.
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda (Self Realization Fellowship) – This book has in some circles has transcended the movement it started. However, it still forms part of the foundation of the Self-Realization Fellowship, based lightly on Hinduism but strives to be a world religion. It is a fascinating read, and helps give a good introduction to many of the themes that the movement focuses on, as well as the man who started it.
Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland (Neopaganism) – Neopaganism is an umbrella term that encompasses a huge variety of beliefs and practices, many of which seem to have nothing in common. Even those who would call themselves Neopagan struggle to find a definition for the term. That being said, this tome by Raymond Buckland is a standard in many circles, and provides a good overview intended for those starting out in Neopaganism.
The Bible (Christianity) – The Bible differs depending on the denomination you are looking for (as well as lots of other preferences)
Protestant – I would recommend the NIV (The New International Version). It is really a standard and provides a pretty good balance between preserving meaning and providing a word for word translation. The 2011 edition has my favorite footnotes and it gives what I think is important additional information and context.
Catholic – The edition that I use most is The New American Bible (Saint Joseph Edition). I find the style very readable and the information (including maps and explanatory footnotes) is helpful for those anyone who has never read the bible or anyone who is interested in a fuller understanding of the passages.
The Dead Sea Scrolls – I would advocate reading the Dead Sea scrolls if you are inclined to that sort of thing. Not only is it an interesting read, but it gives context to both the development of Judaism and Christianity. There was quite a bit of controversy from the time they were found to the 90’s, both about the translations and publications of the findings, I have one of the early editions published in 1956, but there is less variety here than will texts that have been in circulation longer. The copy that has been digitized by google is quite good, as is (if you want something hard-copy) is The Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation, by Michael O. Wise, Martin G. Abegg, and Edward M. Cook.
Tanakh (Judaism) – Even if you don’t want to read both the Old Testament and the Tanakh all the way through on their own, it is important to understand the differences between them, both in translation, books, and order of books. Even though I don’t speak a lick of Hebrew, I would still recommend getting a copy with Hebrew and English, and interlinear one if you can find it. A lot of information is lost between Hebrew and English, and this helps to decrease the gap between them. Commentary should be done by Rabbinical Scholars. The Hebrew Interlinear Bible online is a pretty good option. Interlinear physical books tend to get expensive, but the Jps Hebrew-English Tanakh Bible works fine.
Talmud (Judaism) – The Talmud is how the Tanakh is interpreted now and in the past, written by Rabbis and Wise Men through history. Once again, I would tend to suggest an interlinear option. If not, the Jewish Virtual Library has a good online one.
Qur’an (Islam) – Like all of the large religious texts, there are lots of competing translations and editions. Like the Tanakh, an interlinear option is good, with the Holy Qur’an Arabic Text and English Translation translated by Maulawi Sher ‘Ali. It has alternative translations as well as some commentary. If you are looking for a simpler read use the edition I started on, which is the Quran: A New Translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem. It doesn’t have a whole lot of commentary, but the introduction is quite good and the language is very clear.
The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) – These books are rarely in short supply. What I will say is that you will want to make sure to get a copy with all three books in it. The Church regulates the holy books pretty closely so the only question is the age of the copy. My copy is from 1981, but I would suggest going with a new one. Ask your friendly neighborhood Mormon. They will be happy to give you one.
Science and Health with Key to the Scripture by Mary Baker Eddy (Church of Christ, Scientist) – This is the “textbook” for Christian Scientists written by the movement’s founder Mary Baker Eddy. While editions from the 19th century are interesting from a historical perspective (and probably pretty pricy) no changes have been made since 1910, so it doesn’t really matter. All copies are closely controlled by the church, so there aren’t different versions that diverge from Eddy’s original teachings.
Rig Veda (Hinduism) – Hindu texts are unsurprisingly varied, complex, and carry thousands of years of context and oral tradition. To take a step into this world, I would recommend The Rig Veda translated by Wendy Doniger. It is not the text in its entirety (which is composed of ten books) but is a selection that both translates fairly well into English and provides a gateway into the tradition.
Sirmad Bahavatam - also called Bhagavata Purna (Hinduism and Jainism) This is the devotional text glorifying Krishna as an incarnation of Vishnu. It is one of eighteen such Purnas, but this one in particular I found pretty accessible. A good translation with commentary and some of the original Sanskrit is by His Divine Grace A.S. Bhaktivedanta Swami
The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh and the Buddhavacana (Buddhism) Like Hinduism, there is a large and varied cannon for Buddhism that depends on the tradition, geographic area, and time period. For someone just starting out, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching by Thich Nhat brings many of the core teachings to light in an accessible way. If you want to get a bit more in depth, the Buddhavacana is the collection of sayings and teachings attributed to Buddha. Obviously translated after being written down from oral tradition, what is included in this grouping also varies depending on the tradition. To get started, I would suggest going to http://www.buddha-vacana.org/ which gives you a broader introduction into these texts.
Baha’i World Faith (Bah’ai) – This book contains selected works of Baha’ullah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha, the two important teachers that followed the Bab, founder of the movement. This is a great work for those who need an introduction into the faith, as it covers the core principles, spiritual ideals, and questions that someone might have. The Baha’i Library Online has the text in its entirety.
Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health and Scientology: Fundamentals of Thought by L. Ron Hubbard (Scientology) – L. Ron Hubbard was a prolific writer, both outside and within his own movement. Dianetics is the foundational book where Hubbard outlines the technology that will form Scientology. Scientology: Fundamentals of Thought (written a few years later) lays the groundwork of the movement. It is important to take a look at the publishing dates for these books, as they changed in 2007 (called the Golden Age of Tech Phase ii) to fix reported mistakes in the texts. Either side of this line is interesting, but do make sure you know which phase you are getting.
The Book of the Law by Aleister Crowley (Ordo Templi Orientis) – While not the founder of the OTO, Aleister Crowley is certainly a huge figure in the movement. His writings (which he says were dictated to him by a powerful force) form the backbone of OTO teachings. The best option is to get a copy that has not only the text, but Crowley’s commentary, as this helps quite a bit.
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda (Self Realization Fellowship) – This book has in some circles has transcended the movement it started. However, it still forms part of the foundation of the Self-Realization Fellowship, based lightly on Hinduism but strives to be a world religion. It is a fascinating read, and helps give a good introduction to many of the themes that the movement focuses on, as well as the man who started it.
Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland (Neopaganism) – Neopaganism is an umbrella term that encompasses a huge variety of beliefs and practices, many of which seem to have nothing in common. Even those who would call themselves Neopagan struggle to find a definition for the term. That being said, this tome by Raymond Buckland is a standard in many circles, and provides a good overview intended for those starting out in Neopaganism.