> Why exactly do people need the bible?

Because people can be mistaken, misguided or plain wrong. We need an objective standard from God Himself, to know what is right and true. (Though, He does also provide some basic understanding of truth and beauty through nature, too.)

> Why is it that Christians are so skeptical of actual communication via prayer, that anyone who strongly professes to hear the divine might be suspiciously regarded as mentally ill?

May I suggest the word "Christians" be replaced with "people"? I for one am a Christian and know that people can interact with the supernatural. No need to consider someone mentally ill just because they are more attuned to the spiritual than others (even if not a Christian). One of the longstanding core of the Christian life is to spend time in prayer with God. The Bible acts as a point of reference to know whether our experience is of God or not. There are spiritual beings out there that seek to turn us away from the truth. These are the fallen angels, demons.

> Why are there no more prophets, judges, or anointed kings? Why are there no more miracles?

I for one know of several prophets. I have personally experienced or witnessed miracles. Just because one may not recognize something as a miracle or someone as a prophet does not mean there are none. The unseen world is ever present, both the good and the evil. Our modern society has in the recent past ignored (and some continue to ignore) that it is real just because we have not figured out a way to empirically prove it. The supernatural has the prefix of "super-" because it goes beyond the natural. This does not invalidate science, just as science does not invalidate the supernatural.

> Why do people need a book translated into English to reach the divine?

The Bible has been translated into many more languages than just English. Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic are the original languages used, not English.

> If one were to look at the severe intimacy that Jews and the first Christians experienced with the sacred, a natural thought is to think that Christians have been excommunicated from all spiritual reality.

I'm not sure I disagree with you. There are many examples that would seem to back you up. There are many examples that also refute this. The relationship comes from committing oneself wholly (fully) to follow Jesus Christ. How God chooses to work through and in that person may look different for each person. Just as each person has a unique combination of personality, talents, experiences and opportunities. We can say, though, the trend of a follower of Jesus Christ will be to look more like Him.

> How can this be a spiritual relationship with the Father to all things? How can that be a profession of a connection to spiritual reality?

Perhaps not all who say they have a relationship really know what that even means? This is one more reason we need the Bible - to help us know what God's standard is. If it were left up to me, my standard would not be good enough. My mercy would not be strong enough. My justice would not be complete enough. My ability to see things as they really are and still choose to love would not be pure enough.

Edit: corrected spelling and grammar.