OK if we are to make progress on hermeneutics and homosexuality we need some questions. But before the questions we might need a framework onto which the questions may be tied. The framework could help us both frame the right questions we need to ask and assist us to ask all the questions we need to ask.
Here is an initial offering concerning the framework. I will give it in note form rather than as an essay. Actually even the framework consists of questions - we could call them 'preliminary questions'.
The Bible - what is it, how do we read it, what do we do with what we read, along with a number of other questions, are one part of the framework from which we frame questions about homosexuality.
The church - what is it, what role does the Bible play in its life, what is happening in the church which matters in respect of asking questions about how Christians should live, what is God's purpose for the church - ooh, I can think of lots more to say, but will stop here for now.
God - who is God, and who is God in relation to humanity? What does God say to us, how do we hear God's voice?
Society - human beings with just the rarest of exceptions live with other human beings, in couples, families, clubs, societies, church fellowships, social networks, workplaces, teams.
Culture - all humans live in a cultural context, or cultural contexts.
Development - society x culture = development of life. How we live today is different to living in 1800 AD, 800 AD, 800 BC, and 8000 BC. Some things remain the same (we breathe, we bleed when cut), some things are different.
Law - all humans live in contexts governed by laws (unwritten and written).
What else?
On history’s eradication of memory
1 month ago
That's a useful start for a hermeneutical framework, Peter. I am away from home, dialing up on a laptop that is giving up the ghost, so here are two brief comments for the moment.
ReplyDelete1. These headings are building materials for a framework - we have to think how they fit together - our discussion will be about the shape of the structure we can build with them.
2. I notice you switched from questions to statements after the first three items on your list. If unconscious, this may still be significant. Perhaps Bible, Church and God (not necessarily in that order, Holy One) are the central issues to discuss, and the others are presuppositions we need to accept as common ground if the discussion is to proceed.