Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2003 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The problem discussed in this thesis is how to resist and subvert the complicity of
biblical studies with neo-colonialism as a white male biblical scholar. Traditionally
the interpretation of the bible by white male biblical scholars has not been
recognised as an interested and situated practice, unlike the interpretations by
readers from marginalised backgrounds. The thesis put forward here is that it is
the other - understood as infinite and irreducible - that opens up the habitual
vicious circle of identity formation and identifiable practices. This interruption is a
moment of true decision, i.e. a moment where the self cannot follow any preestablished
ethico-political programme but has to respond in a truly innovative
way. This innovation is understood to be brought about in a double strategy,
which juxtaposes a hegemonic practice with its binary opposition in a nondialectical
way. The space in which such an interruption occurs is the interstitial
borderline, the liminal space and interface between the self and its other. In the
first part, the thesis critically engages with the work of three white male biblical
scholars - Daniel Patte, Jeffrey Staley, and Gerald West - who try to overcome
the traditional academic discourse of biblical studies by problematising the
relationship between their own identities and their academic practices. In the
second part, deconstruction, as shorthand for the work of Jacques Derrida, is
subsequently presented as a thoroughly postcolonial critique of western
ontological concepts and as a viable manner in which to theorise the critical
contributions of Patte, Staley, and West. In the third and final part, three
approaches within biblical studies - historicism, the bible as popular text, and
literary approaches - are singled out and discussed as possible liminal spaces
within which the identity of the white male biblical scholar can be reinvented in
responsibility to the other. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vraagstuk onder bespreking in hierdie verhandeling is hoe om, as blanke
manlike bybelgeleerde die onderlinge medepligtigheid tussen die studie van die
bybel en neo-kolonialisme te weerstaan en te ondermyn. Volgens tradisie word die
vertolking van die bybel deur blanke manlike bybelgeleerdes nie erken as 'n
ge·interesseerde en gelee praktyk nie, in teenstelling met die vertolkings van
geleerdes afkomstig uit minderheidsgroepe. Die stelling wat hier gemaak word is dat
dit die 'ander' is - begryp as oneindig en onverminderbaar - wat die gebruiklike
bose kring van identiteitsvorming en identifiseerbare praktyke oopmaak. Hierdie
onderbreking is 'n oomblik van ware besluitneming, i.e. 'n oomblik waarbinne die self
nie enige voorafbepaalde eties-politiese program kan volg nie, maar waarbinne die
self werklik op 'n oorspronklike en nuwe wyse moet reageer. Dit word verstaan dat
hierdie nuwigheid tot stand gebring word in a dubbele strategie wat die heersende
praktyk op 'n nie-dialektiese wyse langs sy binere opposisie plaas. Die ruimte
waarbinne hierdie onderbreking plaasvind is die tussengrenslyn, die oorgangsruimte
en skakel tussen die self en die 'ander'. Die eerste gedeelte van die verhandeling is
'n kritiese bespreking van die werke van drie blanke manlike bybelgeleerdes,
naamlik Daniel Patte, Jeffrey Staley en Gerald West, wat poog om die tradisionele
akademiese diskoers oor die studie van die bybel te bemeester deur die verhouding
tussen hulle eie identiteite en hul akademiese gebruike te problematiseer. Die
tweede gedeelte bied dekonstruksie, as snelskrif vir die werk van Jaques Derrida
aan as 'n deurdagte post-koloniale kritiek van westerse ontologiese konsepte en as
'n lewensvatbare wyse waarop die kritiese bydraes van Patte, Staley en West
teoretiseer kan word. In die derde en laaste gedeelte word drie benaderings tot die
studie van die bybel, naamlik 'n historiese benadering, die bybel as populere teks en
litirere benaderings uitgesonder en bespreek as moontlike oorgangsruimtes
waarbinne die identiteit van die blanke manlike bybelgeleerde herversin en bedink
kan word met verantwoordelikheid teenoor die 'ander'.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53028 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Pérez, Garcés Juan Luis |
| Contributors | Botha, Jan, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology & Missiology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 219 pages |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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