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Great Subject!
Bible Lovers Not Defined by Denomination, Politics
The survey found that "Scripture remains the most effective 'place' Christians have to progress together along the path of unity. [...] The answers also showed that there no longer exists that diversity among the various Christian traditions -- a diversity evident in the past -- concerning their relationship with Scripture," Bishop Paglia noted. Another factor to emerge was "the considerable expectations that the men and women of our time have toward holy Scripture," which "is considered with great respect by everyone," he said. Among Christians, the bishop explained, "it is widely held that the Bible contains the word of God, that it is an inspired work capable of giving meaning to life, and that it has far greater authority than other ecclesial manifestations," although the values it contains "are difficult to put into practice." Bishop Paglia thus concluded that one of the great challenges shown forth by the survey is Scripture-based preaching, which should "constitute an authoritative appeal to believers and to all those who seek."
Avoiding extremes The prelate further noted how "listening to Scriptures favors the cohesion of listeners." "Indeed, listening to the Word of God truly 'makes' the Church," he explained. Hence "reading Scripture in the company of the Church" makes it possible to avoid "the two most dangerous obstacles: a fundamentalist reading [...] and an individualist pseudo-psychological reading that leads readers to reflect themselves in the pages." The prelate concluded his remarks by highlighting the need "to find space for the 'schools of the word,' the 'schools of the Gospel,' and the 'schools of reading and listening to the Bible.' [...] It is in this perspective that we must see 'lectio divina,' the oldest and riches method of listening to Scripture," which must be given "new spaces and new forms until it becomes the habitual way of approaching the word of God in our Christian communities."
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