The captivity of the Bible in South Africa : toward a pastorally concerned biblical hermeneutics

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dc.contributor.advisorMazamisa, Welileen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSampson, Courtney Daleen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-02-18T12:21:23Z
dc.date.available2016-02-18T12:21:23Z
dc.date.issued1990en_ZA
dc.descriptionBibliography: pages 92-95.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractVarious contemporary Liberation methodologies of Biblical interpretation have generally failed to find a firm enough footage amongst communities of the oppressed. This is so, in spite of the fact that these methodologies are born out of the struggles for liberation of these communities. Most of the people who have a relationship with the Bible, are quite ignorant concerning the human element in the production of the Bible. This ignorance, amongst others, results in a subservient and uncritical approach to the Bible. This is essentially the issue that this thesis wants to address. Chapter one deals with the human origins of both the Old and New Testaments. This is followed by a chapter on methodologies of biblical interpretation. Both in essence seek to highlight and celebrate our humanity by highlighting the human element in our understanding of the Bible. Chapter two also deals with the question of what constitutes a sacred text. Chapter three is a critical reflection on existing Liberation theologies and particularly looks at Liberation theology in Latin America, Black and Prophetic theology in South Africa and Feminist theology. The perception of the Bible which are influenced by these theologies are used in developing a hermeneutical starting point which does not regard the Bible as the absolute and ultimate Word of God, but as a source in the Christian tradition. Chapter four is an attempt to show how the ethos of a denomination influences the way in which people understand the Bible. It is then argued that it is impossible for anybody to follow the Bible literally because of the ways in which various factors such as socio-political, economic, psychological and tradition influence our interpretation of what is read in the Bible. Furthermore, people do not in reality accept the Bible as the absolute Word of God although most seem to claim that it is and Biblical scholars and theologians have this as their hermeneutical starting point. Given these arguments, people do have a special relationship with the Bible and it is a meaningful religious symbol to many who find solace, comfort and direction in it. The Bible must be seen in the context of the community of faith and therefore it must be studied in that context. Any hermeneutics must take the needs and limitations of these communities seriously as Biblical scholars are challenged to be sensitive about the faith of the people for whom the Bible remains a holy and inspirational source, especially if they are victims of oppression. The concluding section challenges Bible study facilitators to question their own hermeneutics in the light of the evidences of this thesis and to see the empowerment of the oppressed as a priority in the presentation of the Bible. This is the underlying issue of importance throughout the thesis, i.e., how the Bible can be appropriated by communities of the oppressed who adhere to the Christian faith, in the struggle for liberation and transformation.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationSampson, C. D. (1990). <i>The captivity of the Bible in South Africa : toward a pastorally concerned biblical hermeneutics</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Religious Studies. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17131en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSampson, Courtney Dale. <i>"The captivity of the Bible in South Africa : toward a pastorally concerned biblical hermeneutics."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Religious Studies, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17131en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSampson, C. 1990. The captivity of the Bible in South Africa : toward a pastorally concerned biblical hermeneutics. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Sampson, Courtney Dale AB - Various contemporary Liberation methodologies of Biblical interpretation have generally failed to find a firm enough footage amongst communities of the oppressed. This is so, in spite of the fact that these methodologies are born out of the struggles for liberation of these communities. Most of the people who have a relationship with the Bible, are quite ignorant concerning the human element in the production of the Bible. This ignorance, amongst others, results in a subservient and uncritical approach to the Bible. This is essentially the issue that this thesis wants to address. Chapter one deals with the human origins of both the Old and New Testaments. This is followed by a chapter on methodologies of biblical interpretation. Both in essence seek to highlight and celebrate our humanity by highlighting the human element in our understanding of the Bible. Chapter two also deals with the question of what constitutes a sacred text. Chapter three is a critical reflection on existing Liberation theologies and particularly looks at Liberation theology in Latin America, Black and Prophetic theology in South Africa and Feminist theology. The perception of the Bible which are influenced by these theologies are used in developing a hermeneutical starting point which does not regard the Bible as the absolute and ultimate Word of God, but as a source in the Christian tradition. Chapter four is an attempt to show how the ethos of a denomination influences the way in which people understand the Bible. It is then argued that it is impossible for anybody to follow the Bible literally because of the ways in which various factors such as socio-political, economic, psychological and tradition influence our interpretation of what is read in the Bible. Furthermore, people do not in reality accept the Bible as the absolute Word of God although most seem to claim that it is and Biblical scholars and theologians have this as their hermeneutical starting point. Given these arguments, people do have a special relationship with the Bible and it is a meaningful religious symbol to many who find solace, comfort and direction in it. The Bible must be seen in the context of the community of faith and therefore it must be studied in that context. Any hermeneutics must take the needs and limitations of these communities seriously as Biblical scholars are challenged to be sensitive about the faith of the people for whom the Bible remains a holy and inspirational source, especially if they are victims of oppression. The concluding section challenges Bible study facilitators to question their own hermeneutics in the light of the evidences of this thesis and to see the empowerment of the oppressed as a priority in the presentation of the Bible. This is the underlying issue of importance throughout the thesis, i.e., how the Bible can be appropriated by communities of the oppressed who adhere to the Christian faith, in the struggle for liberation and transformation. DA - 1990 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1990 T1 - The captivity of the Bible in South Africa : toward a pastorally concerned biblical hermeneutics TI - The captivity of the Bible in South Africa : toward a pastorally concerned biblical hermeneutics UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17131 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/17131
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSampson CD. The captivity of the Bible in South Africa : toward a pastorally concerned biblical hermeneutics. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Religious Studies, 1990 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17131en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Religious Studiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherReligious Studiesen_ZA
dc.subject.otherLiberation theologyen_ZA
dc.titleThe captivity of the Bible in South Africa : toward a pastorally concerned biblical hermeneuticsen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMAen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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