The Bible and the Holy Texts of Religions
(26.03.2009)
Andrea Pacini - Giuseppe Dal Ferro
P. Branca - A. Rigopoulos - A. Locci - G. Dal Ferro
This year's theme for the St. Bernardine Institute of Ecumenical Studies' annual conference was The Bible and the Holy Texts of Religions. During the course of Thursday 26th of March 2009 two major presentations and one round table were held, holy texts of religions were discussed in comparison with the outcomes of the recent Synod of Bishops on The Word of God in the life and mission of the Church. Professor Cesare Bissoli reported the contributions presented to the Synod and the concept of sacramentality of the Word, that is, the redeeming perspective of the word itself. Professor Andrea Pacini, on the other hand, placed the holy texts within an experience, a coming together with the divine, at times in a gnostic way, other times globally, but always fully and under the perspective of salvation. Difficulties arise when considering interpretation of the texts, which should also take into consideration rites and doctrines deriving from them.
The problem was pointed out during the round table discussion with the representatives Rabbi Aaron Locci for Hebraism, Professor Paolo Branca for Islam and Professor Antonio Rigopoulos for Hinduism. Except for Islam, which considers the book as the centre of faith, although in the interpretation recalls closely the sayings of the Prophets collected in the Sunna, the other religions, ahead of the written word, underline the meeting with someone, the mystical experience, the Covenant, Jesus Christ as human-divine person. The 'non-written' dimension therefore becomes essential for the meeting between holy text and believer, as the reference point of revelation itself. The conclusion drawn by Professor Giuseppe Dal Ferro, who conducted the workshop, was that the necessity of theologies of religions emerges to investigate the answers offered by these texts as solution to the great issues of mankind and nations, and proposals of salvation which are naturally different according to each religion.
The conference registered a keen interest and a wide participation of audience.
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