The Ethics of Interpreting the Bible: Initial Reactions

September 30, 2003

Initial Reactions

I decided to expose my ignorance in a new post rather than a comment. My initial thoughts (supported by not enough reading and reflection) are

As an Englishman I was interested in the different paths taken by the US from Europe. This meant a lot of the "history" was unfamiliar to me and I have been trying to relate it to my own church experience (which is also really from after Child's book). I was particularly interested to read of the hope of the Biblical Theology Movement to move beyond the divides between fundamentalism and liberalism - here in the UK we seem to be more divided than ever on these issues.

On a light note I found the confusion in chapter 1 between England, Scotland, Britain and Europe amusing.

The use of "history" as a foundation for the movement is interesting as is the idea of the "unity" of the Bible. Neither seem very strong foundations, particularly as Childs seems to find little or no common ground on what is meant by either term within the movement .

The meaning and intent of "History" in scripture always seems to be problematic especially given the very different cultural understanding between us and the Biblical authors. It has been suggested by some of our Lecturers that this is an area in which scripture has been much abused (generally by Liberals against Fundamentalists).

Both concepts seem to depend on what I feel is the real power issue which is selectivity. Who chooses the text? I believe that the selectivity in the choice of texts was a key criticism by James Barr (although I have been told that Walter Bruderman has a good response).

Surely selection of texts is a key ethical issue for us today. I have heard the claim that most ministers have less than 10 texts on which they preach (no matter which text they say they have used). We have a common lectionary that is selective in that it does not use a large portion of the Bible, who decides what is in or out? Obviously selectivity is key to any search for unity in the scripture.

The discussion of the canon is also interesting. I worked for the United Bible Societies for many years and so became aware of some of the variety of canon in use in the various chuches - something Childs does not seem to take account of.

Just a few fairly random notes from someone who is a) not quite sure what is needed and b) who is trying to get to grips with what it means to do your learning and exploration in public rather than in the privacy of a traditional seminar group.

When we select and use scripture in our churches and lives then ethics are central. Maybe the selectivity is required to provide a way to get a manageable handle on life.

However, I question the ethical use of power behind the selection when for example we preach from scripture against minor "sins" (in terms of affected lives) like euthanasia or gay Bishops but leave alone the "major" sins such as thesystem of which we are a part leaving millions sufferring from poverty, aids, slavery or land mines.

Dave

Posted by Dave W at September 30, 2003 07:42 PM

Comments

The permalink (http://disseminary.org/seminar/ethbible/archives/000806.html) is giving me a status 404.

Posted by: Dave W at October 1, 2003 06:05 AM

The permalink seems to work now.

I think that selection as well as genre are key elements in approaching the biblical text. While canon plays a hugely important role in calling us to regard a collection as authoritative, it doesn't mean that we then approach individual texts uniformly. Part of being ethical in approaching the text must be knowing, and being honest, about what we are approaching. This doesn't need to mean we privilege a canon within the canon. It only means we approach the bible one text at a time.

Posted by: Trevor Bechtel at October 2, 2003 11:44 PM

Believing in God does not require believing in religion.

Posted by: Novins Lisa at February 27, 2004 10:58 PM

Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is too important to be
lost under the burden of juvenile folly and ignorant superstition.
- Isaac Asimov
lipitor

Posted by: lipitor at May 25, 2004 05:07 PM

Posted by: soma at October 20, 2004 07:14 AM

Hello There! - Just need to Refill My Levitra Prescription - for my Cheap Levitra But I cannot Find Discount Levitra and the Order Levitra cost to much for my budget. But I might take a look at Cheap Levitra Medication or Buy Levitra Cheap maybe even just a Levitra Prescription refill!

Posted by: Buy Levitra at October 21, 2004 02:55 AM

Posted by: propecia at October 21, 2004 04:04 AM

Any excuse will serve a tyrant.
-- Aesop
buy lipitor cheap lipitorI use technology in order to hate it more properly.
-- Nam June Paik
lipitor lipitor online buy lipitor online Any excuse will serve a tyrant.
-- Aesop

Posted by: buy lipitor at October 21, 2004 07:44 AM

Posted by: online video poker at October 23, 2004 05:09 PM

A robin redbreast in a cage
Puts all Heaven in a rage.
-- Blake
buy lipitor cheap lipitorLife sucks, but death doesn't put out at all.
-- Thomas J. Kopp
lipitor lipitor online buy lipitor online A robin redbreast in a cage
Puts all Heaven in a rage.
-- Blake

Posted by: buy lipitor at October 25, 2004 11:11 PM

Posted by: levitra at October 26, 2004 04:37 PM

Posted by: tramadol at October 27, 2004 10:52 PM

I think for the most part that the readership here uses the c-word in
a similar fashion. I don't think anybody really believes in a new, revolution-
ary literature --- I think they use `cyberpunk' as a term of convenience to
discuss the common stylistic elements in a small subset of recent sf books.
-- Jeff G. Bone
buy levitra cheap levitraFudd's First Law of Opposition:
Push something hard enough and it will fall over.
levitra levitra online buy levitra online I think for the most part that the readership here uses the c-word in
a similar fashion. I don't think anybody really believes in a new, revolution-
ary literature --- I think they use `cyberpunk' as a term of convenience to
discuss the common stylistic elements in a small subset of recent sf books.
-- Jeff G. Bone

Posted by: buy lipitor online at October 30, 2004 03:35 PM

Payday Loans - Payday Advance

Posted by: Payday Loans at October 31, 2004 09:43 PM

Yabba Dabba Doo http://generic-viagra.dostweb.com/

Posted by: generic viagra at November 1, 2004 04:00 PM

Up to 5 Rooms FREE, FREE Standard Installation, FREE Shipping, FREE Choice of DVD Player, Digital Camera or Luggage/Backpack, FREE HBO and Cinemax for 3 Months

Posted by: direct tv at November 3, 2004 10:37 PM

The best defense against logic is ignorance.

Posted by: Party Poker at November 4, 2004 10:56 PM

for direct tv visit

Posted by: direct tv at November 5, 2004 02:28 AM

for direct tv visit

Posted by: direct tv at November 5, 2004 01:57 PM

Up to $100 Bonu, quick play no download required

Posted by: texas holdem at November 6, 2004 05:49 AM

Posted by: loan at November 6, 2004 01:28 PM

Posted by: free slot machine games at November 9, 2004 01:41 AM

I agree with what you say - makes sense to me.Looking for some propecia?

Posted by: propecia at November 9, 2004 10:38 AM

Only adults have difficulty with childproof caps.
Mortgage Refinancing http://www.refinance-mortgage-com.com

Posted by: Mortgage Refinancing at November 12, 2004 03:35 AM

Dish Network Satellite Yep - Free Dish Network Satellite TV

Posted by: Satellite TV Dish Network at November 12, 2004 07:33 AM

Interesting thoughts, just wanted to mention I came from blogspot.

Posted by: bignaturals www at November 13, 2004 01:21 AM