The Holy Spirit Adult Bible Study Group studies Scripture using the methods of current Catholic biblical scholarship. These methods require that the bible reader understand the cultural background of the bible writers as well as the history going on in the bible lands at the time each particular book of the Bible was written. For example, the group of bible writers who, under the inspiration of God, wrote the account of creation in Genesis, Chap. l, were, at the time of their writing activity, prisoners of war of the Babylonian Empire. They were far removed from their native land. They were experiencing all the emotional turmoil of the brutal warfare of which they were the victims. How does it happen, then, that Genesis 1 is such a ringing affirmation of God's power and glory and his constant love for humans? Answering this question is to discover the revelation, the message, that God wants us to hear. The bible revelations never go out of style. What was God's message then is God's message now. And it's always "good news"!

Following are some observations made by the members of the Bible Study Group: "Knowing the culture of the people of the Bible is important. The Bible isn't just a bunch of words."

"Knowing the messages God sends to us is crucial."

"There's a whole lot more in the Bible than just the New Testament."

"People don't want to change their ideas about the Bible. They don't want to be patient enough to learn."

"Bible study keeps one's thoughts centered on God instead of what is presented in the newspaper and on television."

"Bible study can be intimidating at first, but then you get interested and start questioning and even investigating on your own."