Close encounters : creating a safe space for intercultural Bible reading (part II)
Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Theology
Abstract
Theoretically the process of intercultural Bible reading should create a safe space
where the voice of the individual can be heard in community with others. It should
be a space where the individual is not only free to speak but also to have the innate
experience of truly being heard. In this respect the intercultural Bible reading
experience becomes a space that promotes human dignity and has the inherent
capacity to facilitate social transformation. Although these Bible study groups can
ideally be a safe space with the potential for social transformation, the practical
reality shows a more complicated dynamic. Two important factors that contribute to
the complexity are the ideological framework of individual participants and the
underlying power dynamic in the social interaction. To bring the concepts of power
and ideology in intercultural Bible reading into focus, an empirical study was
conducted. Building on the theoretical discussion in Part I, this contribution will
turn to the empirical study. An overview will be provided of the carefully constructed
research process which allowed participants time for personal reflection,
intimate dialogue as well as group discussion in order to create a free and safe
space for creative interaction. In order to critically engage with the data collected, a
unique set of qualitative data analysis tools was developed to deal with the issues of
power and ideology as mentioned above. The final part of the article will discuss
this process of qualitative data analysis and give a brief summary of the research
results.
Description
CITATION: Van der Walt, C. 2012. Close encounters : creating a safe space for intercultural Bible reading (part II). Scriptura, 110(2):282-292, doi:10.7833/110-0-117.
The original publication is available at http://scriptura.journals.ac.za
The original publication is available at http://scriptura.journals.ac.za
Keywords
Bible -- Hermeneutics, Intercultural communication -- Religious aspects -- Christianity, Ideology
Citation
Van der Walt, C. 2012. Close encounters : creating a safe space for intercultural Bible reading (part II). Scriptura, 110(2):282-292, doi:10.7833/110-0-117.