Final answer:
Studying Bible doctrine is important for understanding the moral and ethical underpinnings of societies, for appreciating historical approaches to life's big questions, and for personal edification as prescribed by various belief systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Studying Bible doctrine serves multiple purposes. It allows individuals to understand the moral and ethical teachings that many societies are built upon—teachings that are often derived from scriptural texts. The scriptures address human matters and are seen by believers as divinely inspired guidelines for a moral life. Philosophers like those from the School of Chartres saw the acquisition of knowledge as a means to comprehend the divine, studying texts from antiquity including works by Aristotle and Plato.
Different denominations have variations in their sacred texts which include or exclude certain books, like the Apocrypha or the Book of Mormon, that provide insights into Christian doctrine and the felt experience of the sacred, such as the Holy Spirit. Central tenets like the Ten Commandments form a foundation for Christian morals and are a basis for study to promote understanding and guidance in adherents' lives.
Studying these texts also helps in appreciating how people in various times and cultures have sought to answer life's big questions, such as the origin of evil or the beginning of time. The pursuit of such knowledge can be seen as part of a birthright as thinking human beings. In historical contexts, like that of the Puritans, education in Bible doctrine was considered essential for understanding one's religion and, therefore, for salvation, which led to the establishment of institutions like Harvard University.