This course begins with the premise that there is no such thing as “objective” interpretation. All interpretation—particularly biblical and theological—is shaped by the social context of the interpreter and the audience. Mitzi J. Smith asserts that even the act of selecting an object for interpretation reflects the interpreter’s values. This idea that everything is an interpretation, especially in these domains, is known as hermeneutics.
We will explore how aspects like race, gender, sexual orientation, class, age, and ageism influence interpretation for both the interpreter and the audience. The course also considers how personal experiences, memory, and living realities, i.e., current history, contribute to the fluid and evolving nature of interpretation.
This is not a philosophical inquiry into the existence of issues like racism, sexism, ageism, heterosexism, or classism. Instead, the course assumes these are real, historically observable phenomena that have been integral to systemic power imbalances in modern society. From a theological and social-scientific perspective, we will analyze how issues of gender, race, class, sexuality, oppression, power, and privilege shape and are shaped by interpretive practices.
- Teacher: Felicia LaBoy