Modern/Postmodern Biblical Hermeneutics and Perspectives: Africa

It must be recognized that many of these approaches to biblical interpretation have undergone shifts in their development and some are not yet static.  Additionally, the experiential influences and "lenses" which characterize them have been intersectional and are overlapping.  One approach can be categorized as part of a more encompassing approach or, conversely, identified as a more particularized perspective and approach, which itself can be broken down more internally.  Therefore, the borders, categorization or placement of an approach are not absolute and indeed can be multiple  -- and this guide reflects that*.  It should be understood that many are considered new approaches applied to traditional interpretive methods (e.g., historical critical method) while others introduce both a new perspective and a new methodology. Many of the featured resources will guide you to both a richer understanding of this diversity and complexity as well as about other emerging voices and approaches.

*Some examples: "Mujerista" is often, as on this guide, grouped with Latino/a/x rather than feminist but it also is a liberationist interpretation.  Latin American interpretation is sometimes grouped with Latino/a/x, but it is often considered separately as the particular location of the experiences of the latter is defined as being in the U.S.   A distinct Asia/Asian hermeneutic is recognized, but in its stages of development not only has an Asian American lens emerged but from the broad geographically designated Asia hermeneutic are newer internally distinct approaches such as Korean or Japanese viewpoints. Finally, even though Postcolonial is a distinct (although geographically diverse) theory, we group it with Global/Globalization theory here as the latter has developed in a post-postcolonial world and also there is convergence between them.  Another likeness is that it is also geographically diverse, but in terms of categorization, many of the approaches represented on this guide can be seen in the ideology of Global biblical interpretation theory.  Some see it as a successor to Postcolonialism. 

The presentation of any of these approaches is to represent the diversity of interpretive viewpoints in biblical hermeneutics today.