Encountering Scripture: How should we approach sacred texts?

Many volumes with many words have been created by many people in the wisdom traditions of the world, and these words are studied by many others. Those approaching these texts have various reasons for doing so. They may be deeply religious people, venerating their volumes and carefully studying them as a guide on how to live life. There are others who admire or respect the wisdom that goes into the texts and who peruse them for inspiration without devoting themselves to any one path. Some are simply curious as to what they say, perhaps including them as part of a well-rounded education regarding the world at large. And there are those scholars who turn the texts into objects of inquiry to be analyzed.

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