Global Biblical Hermeneutics

HDS 2154 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

The study of the Bible as an academic discipline emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries during the Enlightenment period in Europe. As such, historical-critical hermeneutical methods that emerged from this hegemonic context have since dominated biblical studies at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In line with nascent movements in the 20th and 21st centuries to decolonise Biblical Studies, this course introduces students to a selection of hermeneutical approaches for interpreting both the New Testament and the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible from a wide range of non-Western perspectives across World Christianity—including Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Oceania, and the Middle East. Through studying the works of Musa W. Dube, Jione Havea, Elsa Tamez, Kwok Pui-lan, and many others beyond the traditional Western canon (using written texts, videos, and podcasts), this course will help students explore how non-Western epistemologies, cultures, and socio-political contexts shape biblical interpretation across the global church. For their final project (40%), students will apply one global method (Afropean, Womanist, Pasifika, etc.) to a passage of their choice. This may take the form of a research paper (10–12 pages) or a creative actualization (e.g., sermon, artwork, or performance) accompanied by a 5–7-page critical commentary. The commentary should critically engage the chosen method and explain how it informs the creative work.