Many of us know of the harmful ways in which the Bible was (and is) used to perpetuate systems of racial injustice and racism like slavery and white supremacy, yet we also know that the Bible says that "there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free . . . ."
It's clear that Bible is not a simple morality fable with only one possible interpretation, and this two-session study explores the ways in which the Bible has been used over time both to "prove" racial superiority and to resist racism and seek liberation. It also calls attention to the harm done by scholars and readers who assumed that there was only one "right" reading of the Bible, and that their culture and identity didn't affect the way they read. Through dialogue, exploration of the Biblical text, and reflection participants are invited to ponder the two "trajectories" of the Biblical text, and to understand their own contexts when reading the Bible. A variety of leadership options allows adaptability to a variety of group settings.
Session one focuses on themes in the Bible, particularly purity, identity, and difference. Session 2two shifts focus to the themes in biblical interpretation; the discussion in this session centers on culture, context, and colonialism.