The problem I see in the current culture is that most people view the ancient texts through translations that seem almost illiterate compared to the original la

The problem I see in the current culture is that most people view the ancient texts through translations that seem almost illiterate compared to the original language. I will take your word that some religions don't study the Bible. The study I went through was pretty in depth and I still have revelations 40+ years after the initial studying. The difference between oral tradition and the written word is that the written word takes discipline. Some of the early religions have strict rules on capturing the text of the documents. The fidelity between contents of the Dead Sea scrolls and the current Torah is impressive. The oral tradition is a secondary collection of contemporary stories that become the living dialog of the evolving culture. Some religions contain both oral and written tradition. The written word is stagnant and the cultural understanding is always evolving. I understand the divide you are describing but I know a culture that has managed to maintain both.