Theology and Contemporary Multiculturalism

I. The step I most likely omit: Examination of Historical Treatments

II. The reason: Actually understanding the historical context of a Biblical passage is extremely challenging. Most of us, myself included, are exposed to the Bible as religious literature. Historical readings about ancient Israel and the conditions which produced the Bible are often written in dense, difficult language, much more so than the Bible itself. It is also difficult to know which accounts to believe, because all history can be biased. Finally, while the Bible contains some fascinating stories that teach important truths, theologians such as Aquinas and Augustine are not as interested in being engaging and entertaining as the original Biblical authors.
III. This omission (negatively) impacts the formulation of my theology in the following way: Still, I recognize the importance of incorporating historical treatments of Biblical texts into my own theology. It is important not to simply react to a text on a personal level. I know that I can be in error simply applying a text to my own, personal experience and can benefit from the centuries of history reflected in commentaries from people who were either contemporaries of the Biblical authors or who come from a long and proud tradition of Biblical scholarship. Also, there are many hidden meanings in the Bible that are only unlocked by understanding the original meanings of certain words and symbols that have since been lost to modernity.
IV. (To your classmate): advice to integrate the step you often omit in your method of theology: The only way to improve upon this, of course, is through more reading. Although it is not possible to read all of the texts ever written on the subject of Biblical history and theology, it is important to incorporate at least some of them into a serious Biblical scholar’s regular reading.
Word count (excluding the prompts and headings): 260
REPLY #2
I. The step I most likely omit: Consultation of other Cultural Perspectives
II. The reason: It is very difficult to truly see the world from a different cultural perspective. There are so many assumptions I take for granted that everyone shares. America is a very individualistic culture and not all cultures of the world are equally focused upon the individual perspective, even the individual soul. This may be what the Japanese clergymen meant when he said that the American priesthood’s interpretation of the Bible is often as much influenced by the U.S. Constitution as it is scripture.
III. This omission (negatively) impacts the formulation of my theology in the following way: Christianity aspires to be an eternal religion for all nations and all peoples and not bound to a particular geographic location.
IV. (To your classmate): advice to integrate the step you often omit in your method of theology: Talking to other believers from different cultural contexts is essential, whether they are of foreign origin or simply from a different cultural tradition within the United States. It is important to read widely about other cultures, not simply theological literature, but all different types of works. It is vital to expose one’s self to foreign music, foods, and people of different backgrounds to live a rich and multidimensional life and try to encounter different cultural experiences without prejudice. Learning a second language and traveling widely if possible is also enriching from a theological perspective.
Word count (excluding the prompts and headings): 197