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“Biblical Interpretation: A Power for Good or Evil?”
Author(s) -
Smith Susan
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
international review of mission
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.118
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 1758-6631
pISSN - 0020-8582
DOI - 10.1111/j.1758-6631.2005.tb00525.x
Subject(s) - missiology , interpretation (philosophy) , praxis , sociology , multiculturalism , power (physics) , epistemology , environmental ethics , aesthetics , law , philosophy , political science , pedagogy , linguistics , physics , quantum mechanics
Abstract As an academic ducipline, missiology is often considered marginal. However, if missologists take seriously the insights that some of the newer biblical critical methodologies have for their discipline, missiology ceases to be marginal an? becomes central in conversations concerning the great ethical issues of our age. In particular, postcolonial and diasporic methodologies are important in allowing missiology to engage with the biblical text in a new and refreshing way. Postcolonial methodologies allow the musiologist and the missionary to reflect on the history of Christian mission particularly in the modern era, and to reclaim for Christian mission a new role that seeks to resolve some of the problems that occurred when missionary activity was seen as the cultural arm of the colonial powers. Diasporic methodologies are important insofar as they recognize as a gift not a problem the reality of multicultural contemporary society and the need for a missionary praxis that appreciates that cultural diversity.