The Bible for Normal People Podcast - Prof. Cheryl Anderson, "The Ethical Impact of Biblical Interpretation"
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Cheryl B. Anderson joins Pete and Jared to delve into the complexities of biblical ethics and law. This reissue of Episode 173 from July 2021 tackles challenging questions about how we interpret sections of biblical law that seem outdated or irrelevant.
Anderson highlights the need for inclusive biblical interpretation, questioning whose views dominate what is perceived as the Christian perspective and exploring the effects of the "mythical norm" on biblical interpretations. The discussion also touches on how contextual Bible study relates to Latin American theological approaches and the dynamic patterns in the ways Jesus and Paul interpreted their traditions. Anderson's insights from engaging with South African scholars offer a profound understanding of inner-biblical warrants and their impact on modern applications of scripture.
Listeners are invited to reflect on how historical context and contemporary consequences shape their understanding of the Bible, encouraging a nuanced approach to biblical authority that involves struggling with the text rather than submitting to it. Click here to listen today.
Amanda Golden-Peace, The Misogynoir to Mishpat (M2M) Research Network (c) 2024
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Cheryl B. Anderson joins Pete and Jared to discuss ethics, law, and how we read the Bible. This is a reissue of The Bible for Normal People Episode 173 from July 2021. Join them as they explore the following questions:
What do we do with sections of biblical law that seem outdated or irrelevant?
What are some examples of problematic laws or narratives within the Bible?
Why is there a need for inclusive biblical interpretation?
Whose views get encoded in what we think of as the Christian perspective?
What effect does the mythical norm (Audre Lorde) have on biblical interpretations?
How does contextual Bible study relate to the Latin American “See, Judge, Act’” structure?
Where does the Bible exemplify changing perspectives based on context?
What pattern emerges when looking at how Jesus and Paul interpreted their traditions?
What did Cheryl B. Anderson learn from engaging South African biblical scholars and theologians?
In what way does inner-biblical warrant impact our application of scripture?
Tweetables
Pithy, shareable, sometimes-less-than-280-character statements from the episode you can share.
We immediately have an issue when we want to assume that the Bible is authoritative and that it means that we have to follow the Bible exactly as it’s written. — @CherylBAnderson
I was just so fascinated by how we tended to pick and choose which of the laws we would follow, and also, how we tended to not see that these laws specifically exclude certain perspectives. — @CherylBAnderson
You have to define biblical authority not as submission to the text, but in fact, struggling with the text. There’s permission within the Bible itself to change perspectives based on a context. — @CherylBAnderson
We do look at the historical context of these biblical texts, but at the same time, we always have to be aware of the contemporary consequences and we always have to be aware of these varying voices. — @CherylBAnderson
The Bible itself was written by one group contextualizing the tradition of an earlier community and an earlier tradition. And they never felt, ‘Oh, in order to honor this tradition, I have to keep it exactly as it is.’ — @CherylBAnderson
Mentioned in This Episode
Class: Summer School 2023 June Class: Not Kirk Cameron’s Apocalypse
Books:
Ancient Laws and Contemporary Controversies by Cheryl B. Anderson
Join: The Society of Normal People community
Support: www.thebiblefornormalpeople.com/give
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