Christianity is “Maternal Tongue of Europe”

Zenit.org (A Vatican news service reported the following:

Prelate: Bible Key for More Than Christianity

Says Scripture Is Europe’s “Mother Tongue”

LISBON, Portugal, JUNE 24, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The Bible is a cornerstone, not just of Christianity, but of Western civilization, proposed Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi.

The president of the Pontifical Council for Culture affirmed this in Portugal last Friday, when he gave a talk on “The Bible: The ‘Great Code’ of Western Culture” at the Portuguese Catholic University.

According to the archbishop, the Bible is present in Western culture “as structural component of the artistic, ethical and social fields.”

Citing literary critic Northrop Frye, Archbishop Ravasi said that “Scripture is the universe in which Western literature and art acted until the 18th century and, to a great extent, still act.”

The prelate suggested three models that represent “this immense influence” of the Bible…

In reminding his listeners that the Bible is one of the reference points for the faith and for civilization itself, Archbishop Ravasi quoted Goethe who “said that Christianity is ‘the maternal tongue of Europe.'”

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While I believe that people in Europe and everywhere should read the Bible, why would the Catholic Archbishop mention the Bible in this context?

The Vatican wants the Europeans to accept Catholicism as a major aspect of the European Union. And while so far the secularists have stopped this, with each vote against the European constitution/treaty (like the one in Ireland almost two weeks ago), it is becoming clearer to some in the EU that they simply need stronger support from the Vatican in order to get the type of European unity that they are working on.

I believe that telling Europeans “that Christianity is ‘the maternal tongue of Europe”, that once again the Vatican is signaling the secularist EU leaders that they need Catholic (which is how Catholics tend to define “Christianity) support.

And, of course, the Vatican is willing to provide that support if the EU endorses a few concepts, specifically recognizing some Vatican presence and authority.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Read the Bible Christians should read the Bible. This article gives some rationale for regular bible reading.
What is the Appropriate Form of Biblical Interpretation? Should the Bible be literally understood? What do the writings of the Bible, Origen, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Augustine show?
Bible and Historical Resources on the Internet Electronic bibles, Two Babylons, early Christian literature, photos, and even links to old Herbert W. Armstrong materials.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what doctrines the early Christians actually had? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin?