Feeling particularly uninspired, I thought I’d share an article that I found interesting, which combines two ideas we’ve looked at recently:
- how our worldview affects our interpretation of the Bible
- the need to read the Bible looking for broad themes, rather than isolating individual passages
Found over at The Relentless Monk, the article is called “Are We ALL victims of our worldview?”
A few interesting quotes (for those lacking the time or patience to read the article):
- “The problem is that we are all trapped in our presuppositions. Had my friend, or I, or the fundamentalist pastor down the street, been born in a different culture with different presuppositions about how the world works, what we see as the ‘plain meaning’ of anything would be different.”
- “As I thought more about it, I realized that my friend was assuming that how he understood the text was, in fact, the way the author intended the text to be understood. From his perspective, things like symbolism, repetition, and literary structure were secondary, and few other people would notice them. He was assuming that what he saw as the plain meaning of the text was, in fact, it’s meaning. He was saying what we all say—that his presuppositions are the right ones.” (author’s emphasis)
- “At the same time, however, my western worldview requires that what I believe be logical and consistent, and, in a general way, make sense.” (author’s emphasis)
- “As I have learned more about the Bible, I have identified and rejected many of my past preconceptions, but I cannot imagine not holding Scripture to some standard of inherent logic. Is that logic some universal aspect of how humans understand truth, or is it, too, just a transient characteristic of my culture that is so ingrained that I will never be able to get out from under it?”
Interesting thoughts. Tell me what you think.
We often tend to define God according to our culture. In the United States, God is seen as Republican and capitalistic–guaranteeing succcess to the faithful. In Thailand, which mixes animism with Buddhism, God is a good luck charm–guaranteeing protection to the faithful. An argument can also be made that we define God’s “maleness” in terms of our patriarchal cultures.
Tim – my current way of looking at this is that we really can’t understand the Scriptures any other way except through our own “norms” (try as we like). We can try to see the logic, patterns, broad themes, pin-pointed passages, etc., from the standpoint of others, but I just don’t think we can 100% do it. Therefore, we are obligated to obey based on how we receive, perceive and understand the word, based on our own biases (societal, cultural, educational, etc.). But here’s the hard part: we need to have the grace to allow others to do that, as well, and always be open to the possibility that others may have a greater grasp on a particular subject than we do. This will cause us to pause, listen and reflect with humility when we come up against an “opposing doctrine” instead of responding with mean-spirited pride and just blasting the “infidels” for their “willful disobedience.” (But, you know, our understanding of the subject might just be right after all; it’s how we handle it that’s usually the problem.)
Tim,
Over the years I’ve thought often about how people view the world through a particular lens. For them, it seems perfectly rational. What has been difficult is really accepted that I am also limited in the same way. I’ve been forced to see this as true as particular details of my beliefs have changed (often painfully), and as I’ve interacted more and more with people from very different backgrounds and cultures than my own. Often I am taken aback by how passionately some folks believe in things that, to me, seem like utter (and obvious) nonsense. I imagine that’s how some people would look at my perspective.
I’ve also been troubled by how people can be trapped within a belief system they no longer accept, due to family and social obligations. It’s complicated, and I don’t have answers. I just have to rely on God’s grace for myself, and for others as well.
Over the last few years one aspect of revelation that has amzed me is how God deals with culture. He doesn’t imprison it, or shove it aside, in fact he uses it (sacrifices, baptism, posessions, the incarnation, etc). As he issues directives to men he gives room for culture while preserving the values he desires. There is a genius to it that escapes us when we insist upon trans-cultural standards …that are inevitably our culture imposed upon others.