Some of the most interesting reads as a Christian are the writings of the Early Church fathers. Those who wrote shortly after the New Testament writers. I've found the myth of the Phoenix to be an incredible story that St. Clement related to the early church in his letter to the Corinthians. In the nearly identical time frame, turn of the first century, is St. Ignatius of Antioch. St. Ignatius left us with a number of letters. St. Ignatius is believed to have been one of the early persecuted Christians who was fed to the lions in the Roman Amphitheater. I've found Clement of Alexander to be a thoughtful Christian writer, too. One who wrote during the time period when Alexandria became the cultural center of the world with it's exquisite library.

I recently read Misquoting Jesus by Bart Ehrman. It was very well written. I think the title perhaps written by the publisher, a misnomer, but a good marketing ploy. In the introduction Dr. Ehrman explains that the book is somewhat of a textual-criticism for lay readers. Textual-criticism he explains has long been the concern of very specialized scriptural scholars but the average person doesn't understand the archaeological scriptural discoveries that have recently been made.