Overview
Biblical interpretation in the contemporary context of globalisation faces a variety of challenges. This book addresses the challenges presented to the discipline by the incorporation of poststructuralism, postcolonialism, and liberation theologies, particularly the problem of interpretive ghettoisation and the ethics of contemporary biblical interpretation. It proposes one possible answer to the question of how the field of biblical hermeneutics can move beyond the segregation passively encouraged by subjectivity and self-determination toward the integration of academic and vernacular hermeneutics in the interests of justice for the dominated and the reconstitution of the dominant. This project first presents the interpretive theories of Edward W. Said, addresses the major criticisms of his work, and proceeds to discuss the adaptation of his concept of contrapuntal reading to the interpretation of biblical texts. Second, it presents a survey of current work in the field which attempts to overcome the gap between academic and vernacular hermeneutics and critiques these approaches in light of Said's concepts. Third, it presents The Book of Job as an appropriate context in which to explore the possibilities of contrapuntal hermeneutics. This section analyzes various academic and vernacular interpretations of The Book of Job and places these interpretations in contrapuntal dialogue over the course of three chapters. The first of these chapters explores the possibilities for dialogue between those interpretations that view suffering as a key theme in the book and those that do not; the second chapter explores interpretations of The Book of Job and the issue of suffering in various Euro-North American psychological contexts and in various African contexts of HIV/AIDS; and, the third chapter juxtaposes academic and vernacular interpretations of The Book of Job in various Asian contexts. Finally, the study closes with an argument for pedagogical reform based upon the ethical and interpretive insights of contrapuntal hermeneutics.
Full Product Details
Author: Alissa Jones Nelson
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint: Equinox Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 9781845538903
ISBN 10: 1845538900
Pages: 224
Publication Date: 01 September 2011
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Out of Print
Availability: Awaiting stock
Author Information
Alissa Jones Nelson completed her doctorate at the University of St Andrews in 2009. Her recent publications focus on the intersections of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and contemporary socio-political issues such as globalization, pedagogy and sexuality as well as the use of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in popular culture.
