BLACK BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS AND IDEOLOGICALLY AWARE READING OF TEXTS

• EB Farisani Old Testament & Ancient Near Eastern Studies University of South Africa

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7833/105-0-169

Keywords: Black Theology, Reconstruction Theology, Ideology, Hermeneutics

Abstract

This paper examines the role of Black Biblical hermeneutics in the development and propagation of Black theology and then goes on to argue for a sociological analysis of biblical texts as a preferred methodological approach for Black theology to effectively unearth the ideologies imbedded in biblical texts. Accordingly, this paper proposes a sociological analysis of Biblical texts. The above stated focus of this paper will be done in the following four stages. First, this paper provides a brief sketch of the emergence of Black theology and the role of Black biblical hermeneutics in support of the struggle of Black people against oppression in South Africa. Second, the paper discusses Mosala�s critique of Black theology and Black biblical hermeneutics. Third, the paper discusses reconstruction theology and its ideologically unaware reading of biblical texts. Finally, the paper spells out the role of Black Biblical hermeneutics in the current post-Apartheid South Africa. This is where the contribution of a sociological analysis/reading of biblical text will be spelt out as the preferred methodological approach for Black theology in the current post Apartheid context.