This book identifies nine areas where Western cultural assumptions diverge from the cultural context of the Bible. Richards and O'Brien address issues such as individualism vs. collectivism, honor-shame cultures, and the importance of understanding implicit cultural norms in ancient texts. The authors aim to help readers reinterpret Scripture without imposing modern Western assumptions, thereby gaining a more accurate understanding of the biblical message.
Jon Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven" delves into the 1984 murder of Brenda Lafferty and her baby, exploring the fundamentalist Mormon community where the crime occurred. The book examines the history and beliefs of Mormonism, tracing its evolution from its origins to the extreme interpretations of fundamentalist groups. Krakauer investigates the complex interplay of faith, violence, and power within this community. The narrative blends true crime elements with a deep exploration of religious history and social dynamics. The book raises questions about religious extremism and its potential consequences.
In this book, Jonathan Haidt draws on twenty-five years of research on moral psychology to explain why people's moral judgments are driven by intuition rather than reason. He introduces the Moral Foundations Theory, which posits that human morality is based on six foundations: care/harm, fairness/cheating, loyalty/betrayal, authority/subversion, sanctity/degradation, and liberty/oppression. Haidt argues that liberals tend to focus on the care/harm and fairness/cheating foundations, while conservatives draw on all six. The book also explores how morality binds and blinds people, leading to social cohesion but also to conflicts. Haidt aims to promote understanding and civility by highlighting the commonalities and differences in moral intuitions across political spectra.
Is the label "biblical" helping or hurting how we approach faith, church, and cultural challenges? In this thought-provoking episode of the Voxology Podcast, Mike and Tim explore the pitfalls of using "biblical" as a rigid brand, how it impacts theology, and its effects on navigating issues like justice, community, and interpretation of Scripture.
They discuss the importance of reading the Bible in community, embracing humility, and fostering critical thinking to form faithful and wise communities. Drawing on listener feedback, they tackle how Scripture has been used both to liberate and to harm and ask what it means to embody a cruciform way of living.
The conversation dives into the role of the church in society, the balance between individual and communal faith practices, and the dangers of reducing the Bible to oversimplified categories. With humor, deep insight, and a commitment to justice and Jesus’ teachings, this episode invites you to rethink how we engage with Scripture and one another.
#bible #selfimprovement #foundationforintentionalcommunity #biblestudy #importanceofchristiancommunity #bible #solascriptura #livingbythebook #eisegesisvs.exegesis #biblestudy
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Week Recap 02:51 Modeling for a Glamping Resort 06:05 Podcast Updates and Listener Feedback 09:07 Discussion on Bible Accessibility and Interpretation 11:57 The Role of Community in Bible Reading 18:09 Intent Behind Bible Study 21:05 Unity and Diversity in the Bible 26:00 The Purpose of the Bible in Community 30:09 Critique of Biblical Branding 34:02 Closing Thoughts on Wisdom and Learning 35:25 The Limitations of Biblical Prepackaging 38:51 The Harm of Misusing Biblical Concepts 44:52 Understanding the Bible as a Cross-Cultural Experience 51:59 The Three Elements of Biblical Interpretation 59:52 The Importance of Context in Biblical Texts 01:06:01 The Dark History of Biblical Misinterpretation 01:09:55 Navigating Modern Misinformation and Biblical Understanding
As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.
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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
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