[This is Part 3 of a series looking at what an integral approach to interpreting Scriptures might look like: Part 1: Introduction Part 2: Growth-Oriented ] ‘Holistic’ is a word that can mean different things to different people. To some it simply means ‘whole’, but for others it might conjure up images of alternative … Continue reading Toward an Integral Hermeneutic: Holistic
It’s been a while since I’ve explored a practice relating to Scripture reading here. As it happens, I’ve also been working on a series of posts on hermeneutics (the interpretation of texts), and so I’ve been thinking a lot about how we approach and interpret our Scriptures. And so this week for my sacred practice … Continue reading Eisegesis & Exegesis
The written word is nothing short of a miracle, transforming patterns of marks on a surface into meaningful communication, across space and time. It should be no surprise, thinking of the miracle that writing actually represents, that understanding the written word is often challenging. Even more than understanding face-to-face oral/aural communication, it is really nothing … Continue reading The Written Word (Toward an Integral Hermeneutic: Introduction)
Between the arrival of Spring and this season of Easter we’re about to enter, it’s no surprise that my mind of late has been occupied with thoughts of resurrection and new life. Both images are fertile ground as metaphors for our lives. But, whereas the metaphor of Spring suggests a slow and barely perceptible shift … Continue reading Mourning into Joy: Reflections on the Resurrection
Last week, I wrote about the problems we have in our culture talking about sin. I ended the post saying that I think a helpful way forward in developing our ability to talk about it is to reclaim the biblical metaphors that underlie unhelpful translations like ‘sin’ and ‘wickedness’. As I was contemplating this, I … Continue reading Living and Effective
Matthew Root 