The Bible For Normal People [Bible] Episode 297: Alexiana Fry - Trauma in the Hebrew Bible
Apr 28, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Alexiana Fry, a Postdoc at the University of Copenhagen specializing in trauma in the Hebrew Bible, tackles the complex narratives of trauma, gender, and migration. She dives into texts like Hosea and Judges 19, challenging traditional views while shedding light on the urgency of understanding pain within these stories. Alexiana emphasizes the significance of context, personal experiences, and sensitivity when interpreting biblical texts, fostering a deeper connection between ancient scripture and contemporary issues.
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Alexiana's Personal Academic Journey
- Alexiana Fry shares her journey from growing up in a white evangelical church to critically engaging trauma, gender, and migration in the Hebrew Bible.
- Her academic path, influenced by South African scholarship, opened her to new ways of reading abuse and violence in biblical texts.
Trauma is Morally Neutral
- Trauma is a morally neutral diagnostic category that affects both victims and perpetrators without excusing actions.
- A trauma-informed reading reveals historic impact and motivations in biblical texts without bypassing their horror or complexity.
Speech Acts Show Trauma's Impact
- Speech act theory explores how words perform actions beyond their literal meaning, affecting listeners and social status.
- Applying trauma hermeneutics considers how trauma influences biblical speech and meaning differently than traditional readings.