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Tag Archives: interpretation

Experience, Scripture, Tradition: Weekly Summary

How Did Jesus Approach Scripture?

The Importance of Experience

Spiritual Direction The Importance of Experience Sunday, June 20, 2021 No matter the religion or denomination in which we are raised, our spirituality still comes through the first filter of our own life experience. We must begin to be honest about this instead of pretending that any of us are formed exclusively by the Scriptures… Continue Reading The Importance of Experience

Church: Old and New: Weekly Summary

Church: Old and New Summary: Sunday, October 27—Friday, November 1, 2019 With each rebirth, Christianity becomes more inclusive and universal, as it was always meant to be. (Sunday) I believe that what some refer to as the “emerging church” is a movement of the Holy Spirit. (Monday) [Christ’s] time seems to stretch to eternity and… Continue Reading Church: Old and New: Weekly Summary

Distilled Wisdom

The Perennial Tradition Distilled Wisdom Wednesday, August 14, 2019 Today, as we continue to reflect on the Perennial Tradition, we hear from John Esposito, Founding Director of the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding in the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. [The understandings of the] movement, often referred to as the Perennial Philosophy… Continue Reading Distilled Wisdom

Beginner’s Mind

Jesus and the Bible Beginner’s Mind Friday, January 11, 2019 I’d like to offer some spiritual advice so that you can read Scripture the way that Jesus did and use it for good purposes. Offer a prayer for guidance from the Holy Spirit before you make your interpretation of an important text. With an open… Continue Reading Beginner’s Mind

The Law Says . . . But I Say

Jesus and the Bible The Law Says . . . But I Say Thursday, January 10, 2019 Today we will continue looking at the way Jesus used the Scriptures with some specific examples: He openly disagrees with Scriptures that emphasize non-essentials and “mere human commandments” that made their way into what are presented as divine… Continue Reading The Law Says . . . But I Say

Jesus’ Hermeneutic

Jesus and the Bible Jesus’ Hermeneutic Wednesday, January 9, 2019 Jesus’ approach to interpreting sacred text was radical for his time, yet honored his own Hebrew Bible (or what Christians call the Old Testament). Even though Jesus’ use of Scripture is plain enough for us to see in the Gospels, many Christians are accustomed to… Continue Reading Jesus’ Hermeneutic

Many Ways of Knowing

Jesus and the Bible Many Ways of Knowing Tuesday, January 8, 2019 Unknown to many post-Reformation Christians, early centuries of Christianity—through authoritative teachers like Origen, Cyril of Alexandria, Augustine, and Gregory the Great—encouraged as many as seven “senses” of Scripture. The literal, historical, allegorical, moral, symbolic, eschatological (the trajectory of history and growth), and “primordial”… Continue Reading Many Ways of Knowing

Midrash

Jesus and the Bible Midrash Monday, January 7, 2019 More than telling us exactly what to see in the Scriptures, Jesus taught us how to see, what to emphasize, and also what could be de-emphasized or ignored. Beyond fundamentalism or literalism, Jesus practiced a form that the Jewish people called midrash, consistently using questions to keep spiritual meanings open, often reflecting… Continue Reading Midrash

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