The Bible and other religious literature

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they dont teach mulimese in schools around here

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I just know some of my friends at church would look at me sideways if I started talking about some principal I picked up in the Quran.

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And the sad part is that when it gets down to it, Christianity, Islam (believe it or not Allah is just the Arabic word for God), and Judaism all pray to the same God of Abraham. I think there is some value to be had in looking at your faith in God from a different person's perspective. That's just my 2cents.

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downloaded a Quran app one time but it wasn't translated and they don't teach Muslimese in schools around here.

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Couldn't decode the Derka Derka?

I like the Jefferson bible.

Southern Baptist here. Read most of the other religious texts to gain perspective and I'm a nerd.

I often try to look at the bible as though from an outsider's perspective. What I see is:
Genesis is fascinating and Exodus is epic.
The rest of the Pentateuch is absolute torture. It feels like some kind of evil, Machiavellian torture experiment perpetrated on this group of people. T
he next few books are pretty interesting, showing the takeover of Canaan and detailing wars with the Philistines as the Israelites establish their kingdom.
Job makes God seem like an even bigger prick than he was in Deuteronomy, Numbers, and Leviticus.
The Babylonian Exile and surrounding prophetic writings showcase some pretty interesting philosophy.
The Gospels are an absolute joy to read. There is story, there is philosophy, there is symbolism, allegory, death, betrayal, victory, defeat, politics, ect. It's a complete story.
Acts is interesting, showcasing the beginnings of the faith.
The Epistles of Paul feel kind of random and unnecessary.
Revelations feels like some kind of apocalyptic acid trip. It feels disjointed from the rest of the new Testament.

As for other religious texts:
The Koran is an absolute chore to read, especially with the constant "Praise be upon him" that happens in nearly every sentence. It's also extremely violent and downright disturbing. I really didn't get much value out of it.
The Hindu Bhagavad Gita is fascinating. The stories are so crazy and so rich in detail, it's like reading science fiction interlaced with philosophy. Great stuff.

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I've never read the Quran. Could I find value within it that might edify my life? Sure.

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About like you can find nuggets of knowledge scrolled above urinals and on the back of stall doors in truck stops and gas stations across the nation.

Look to the Middle East and why it's so screwed up, and to what religious literature those populations look for guidance.

And take Hardy Har's advice on the background of Islam. That should tell you enough.

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Do any of you mentioned above read the bible?

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I no longer read it.

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Do any of you find value in the Bible from a secular or a humanist perspective?

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Sure, it fuels my hate of the gays...

Seriously though, the bible is full of good morals and lessons. Many of which I try to live by.

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Do any of you mentioned above read or find value in the Bible from a secular or a humanist perspective?

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Yes. I enjoy quite a bit of the book of Proverbs, and the teachings of Jesus are, for the most part, solid advice.

There is also a passage from the book of Samuel that illustrates government very well,

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4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead[b] us, such as all the other nations have.”

6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

10 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[c] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

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Anyone who can't find something helpful in the book of Proverbs is lying