Hi Homerjaymc-A few of my own random thoughts regarding your question and some of the replies (as I tiptoe through the minefield).
Since I gather you are from an RC background, I think the Bible is a good place to start. Reading sacred texts from other major (or even minor) religions/faith traditions is important, but
a number of sensei or roshi that i know would recomend that before a westerner from a Judeo-Christian upbringing starts delving too deeply into Eastern thoughts, for instance, they become familiar with what's in their own back yard first.
First off, I'd say get something like an annotated New Revised Standa
rd Version Study Bible. The footnotes, maps, etc. can be very helpfull in understanding the text and context of what is being written. Secondly, if possible, find a group of people to read and discuss with. Preferably led by someone with a strong classics background who knows ancient Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, etc. Though VERY IMPORTANT: Not one with an ax to grind or who is out to convert people to their belief, just a good scholarly perspective. A lot of the Bible is very *dense*, with layer overlaid upon layer, it can make your head swim if just read in isolation.
As far as specific books go, in the OT, Genesis and Exodus, Job for sure, as it is unlike anything else in the Bible. Proverbs has some good nuggets of wisdom. Isaiah is difficult, but would help put a lot of the Gospels in context. Ditto for Daniel, an extremely hard text to wrap one's mind around as it is frought with symbolism and is the only true apocolyptic narrative in the Bible outside of Revelations. But it does provide some interesting paralells for those of us today who are attempting to "resist the empire".
In the NT, the Gospels, absolutely (realizing that Acts is merely a continuation of Luke under a different name). Though John has the most flowery language, my personal favorite is Mark. It is the oldest of the four. Not much discourse, focused on action and movement instead. The disciples come off looking extremely clueless. There is no virgin birth or gilded, resurrected Jesus, just a man wandering an teaching at the begining and an empty tomb at the end.
It would also be a good idea to read at least some other NT books, though as has been noted, some of it is pretty awfull as seen through modern eyes. However, coming from an RC tradition it would help to see the centrality of Pauline influence in much of Protestant thinking. And some is just gorgeuos, Philippians 4:4, just to cite one example.
As far as other writings go, the Gostic Gospels are fine, but I'd stay away from Augustine, Aquinas, St. Theresa, without some kind of Bible study behind you first. (Though with St. T. being the patron saint of chess players, she'll always hold a soft spot in my heart
.)
Um, I guess that's all the pontificating I have for now, there IS a lot of wisdom and beauty in the Bible, plus a lot that is, well, neither. But as one ofthe most influentual works of the past 2000 years, I'd say take a look, regardless of what you take away from it. Hope this helps a little.-Lopaka