Imposed hermeneutics always fails in regard to categories, either by failing to recognize existent categories or by forcing non-existent categories on the text. Empire criticism (this is the Jesus is Lord and Caesar is not crowd) thinks the Kingdom of God is in competition with the kingdoms of the earth, as if allegiance to God has anything to do with being French or American. This is an example of failing to recognize existing categories and their differences. The New Testament is a Platonic document crowd (is there a name for this?) forces categories where none exist by classifying a teaching either as Platonic or not, as if Plato were the only one to hold the basic metaphysical principles of dualism. How to avoid this grave error? Study philosophy before you study theology, just like they did throughout most of Church history until a few years ago.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:44:18 +0000