Religion
Biblical Interpretation Self Inventory
1. CHURCH HISTORY/TRADITION
What is my denominational history and tradition regarding interpretation of the Bible?
2. AUTHORITATIVE CRITERIA
What are the norms or standards beyond the Bible recognized in my tradition to indicate how the Bible is the word of God? This may include a founder of the denomination, a church body, a confession, a creed, a set of customs, a type of personal experience, a social commitment, as well as other possibilities.
3. WORKING THEOLOGY
What is my actual working theology regarding interpretation of the Bible? To what extent is this the same or different from the official position of my denomination or the “average” viewpoint among my church associates?
4. ETHNICITY How does my ethnic history, culture, and consciousness influence my interpretation of the Bible? 5. GENDER How does my gender history, culture and consciousness influence my interpretation of the Bible? 6. SOCIAL CLASS How does my social-class history, culture and consciousness influence my interpretation of the Bible? Since the dominant ideology in our society tends to deny that social classes exist among us, or to belittle the significance of class, it may take considerable effort on your part to identify your class location. For starters, you can ask about work experience, inherited wealth, income, education, types of reading, news sources consulted, social and career aspirations, and so on, and you can ask these questions about yourself, your parents, your grandparents, your associates, our neighborhood, your church. 7. EDUCATION How does my level and type of education or work experience influence my interpretation of the Bible? If I have had technical or professional training in the nonreligious fields, how does this impact my way of reading the Bible? 8. COMMUNITY PRIORITIES How do the values, welfare and survival needs recognized or felt implicitly in my community/church
1. CHURCH HISTORY/TRADITION
What is my denominational history and tradition regarding interpretation of the Bible?
2. AUTHORITATIVE CRITERIA
What are the norms or standards beyond the Bible recognized in my tradition to indicate how the Bible is the word of God? This may include a founder of the denomination, a church body, a confession, a creed, a set of customs, a type of personal experience, a social commitment, as well as other possibilities.
3. WORKING THEOLOGY
What is my actual working theology regarding interpretation of the Bible? To what extent is this the same or different from the official position of my denomination or the “average” viewpoint among my church associates?
4. ETHNICITY How does my ethnic history, culture, and consciousness influence my interpretation of the Bible? 5. GENDER How does my gender history, culture and consciousness influence my interpretation of the Bible? 6. SOCIAL CLASS How does my social-class history, culture and consciousness influence my interpretation of the Bible? Since the dominant ideology in our society tends to deny that social classes exist among us, or to belittle the significance of class, it may take considerable effort on your part to identify your class location. For starters, you can ask about work experience, inherited wealth, income, education, types of reading, news sources consulted, social and career aspirations, and so on, and you can ask these questions about yourself, your parents, your grandparents, your associates, our neighborhood, your church. 7. EDUCATION How does my level and type of education or work experience influence my interpretation of the Bible? If I have had technical or professional training in the nonreligious fields, how does this impact my way of reading the Bible? 8. COMMUNITY PRIORITIES How do the values, welfare and survival needs recognized or felt implicitly in my community/church