Social Trends in Interpretation
--Lecture Notes for Topic 2.3.2-
Religion 492
Last revised: 4/20/04
Explanation:
Contained below is a manuscript summarizing the class lecture(s) covering the above specified range of topics from the List of Topics for Religion 492.  Quite often hyperlinks (underlined) to sources of information etc. will be inserted in the text of the lecture. Test questions for all quizzes and exams will be derived in their entirety or in part from these lectures; see Exams in the course syllabus for details. To display the Greek text contained in this page download and install the free BSTGreek True Type fonts from Bible Study Tools.
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2.3.2
Introduction
2.3.2.1
Methodological 
Approach
2.3.2.2
Sociological 
Exegesis
2.3.2.3
Liberation 
Theology
2.3.2.4
Feminist 
Theology
2.3.2.5
Fundamentalist
Agenda Oriented
Theology
Bibliography


2.3.2 Introduction
Assigned Readings for This Topic:
Gerald Bray, "Social Trends in Interpretation," Biblical Interpretation: Past and Present, pp. 507-538

        The focus of this chapter in Prof. Bray's work is on interpretive approaches dictated by contemporary social issues in our modern world. This approach to Bible interpretation is relatively new in many ways, although certain aspects of the approaches have been a part of interpretive history for a long time. The three emerging trends in interpretive methodology that have developed to a stage where they have distinct identity have to do with sociological methodology, with a couple of spin off approaches: liberation theology and feminist theology. I have added a fourth emerging approach, although it has not yet taken on the distinct identity that the others have achieved. But it is moving toward such. It is that of, for lack of a better label, fundamentalist agenda oriented theology. This includes both Protestant and Roman Catholic traditions and is concentrated in North America much more than anywhere else in the world.
        We will investigate each of these in the subsequent sections.
 

2.3.2.1 Methodological Approach
Assigned Readings for This Topic:

Resource Materials to also be studied:

        At the heart of these approaches is a reversal of the historical critical methodology. In the older approach, the past historical meaning of the text was explored and determined as far as possible. Then, in more theologically oriented uses, connections to present situations of this historical meaning would be explored as 'application' of the text's meaning to today. But at the heart of these approaches, especially in their beginning expressions, is going first to a contemporary social injustice issue in our present society. This is seen as needing to be addressed by Christianity, usually in a protest manner. In order to provide a basis for criticizing the social injustice the Bible is searched for religious values that take a similar hostile view of the contemporary social injustice. Typically, a central social issue becomes basic to the methodology, rather than a variety of issues crossing ethnic, gender, political etc. lines. Thus with liberation theology the political oppression of the poor becomes the foundation issues, while with feminist theologians the inequality of women in modern (American) society becomes the key issue. Thus an interpretive approach to the scripture is formulated around this single social issue, and the Bible is understood and taught largely in light of this central social issue.
 
 

2.3.2.2 Sociological Exegesis
Assigned Readings for This Topic:
Gerald Bray, Biblical Interpretation: Past and Present, pp. 511-515
 

Resource Materials to also be studied:

2.3.2.3 Liberation Theology
Assigned Readings for This Topic:
Gerald Bray, Biblical Interpretation: Past and Present, pp. 516-519

Resource Materials to also be studied:

2.3.2.4 Feminist Theology
Assigned Readings for This Topic:
Gerald Bray, Biblical Interpretation: Past and Present, pp. 519-524.

Resource Materials to also be studied:

2.3.2.5 Fundamentalist Social Agenda Oriented Theology
Assigned Readings for This Topic:
 

Resource Materials to also be studied:

Bibliography

Check Bray's bibliography in appropriate chapter of the textbook.

Check the appropriate Bibliography section in Cranfordville.com

Vernon K. Robbins, "Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation," at
http://www.emory.edu/COLLEGE/RELIGION/faculty/robbins/SRI/index.html.

Vernon K. Robbins, "Socio-Rhetorical Hermeneutics and Commentary," at http://www.emory.edu/COLLEGE/RELIGION/faculty/robbins/commentary/commentary284.html