The point of the Catholic church was that only the priesthood could really interpret the scripture. If you are actually involved with a church, you will find t

The point of the Catholic church was that only the priesthood could really interpret the scripture. If you are actually involved with a church, you will find that what people really read at "bible studies" and such are a very select few passages from the bible, usually prepackaged into convenient paperbacks and pamphlets so you don't even have to lug a heavy bible around. There's also tons of non-scriptural commentary packaged up as quasi-scripture, usually labeled as "devotions" or something like that. Also, nearly all of the songs and prayers and creeds are not from the Bible at all, it's just something some clergy, or even church poet or musician wrote long ago. In contemporary mega churches it's even worse, you're probably watching powerpoint slides cribbed from a Tony Robbins seminar and singing songs written by Alanis Morrissette, while the pastor delivers his sermon about 401k plans. I guess you are right that clergy probably won't actively discourage you from reading the bible, but I'm almost certain they will steer you to a devotional book instead. If you actually go off and read the bible then ask a pastor what the deal is with the goat headed UFO in Ezekiel they get pretty uncomfortable.