16 - Post-colonial readings of the Bible

Summary

This chapter explores the relationship between liberation hermeneutics and extra-biblical post-colonial studies. Typically in hermeneutics, the ancient context of production of the biblical text being interpreted is brought into explicit dialogue with some contemporary context of reception, usually the socio-cultural context of the interpreter. The multinational contributors to Voices from the Margin frequently attend to the lingering spectre of colonialism, insufficiently exorcised even in the majority of former colonies that have officially achieved independence and undergone decolonisation. Sugirtharajah's own relationship to liberation hermeneutics appears to be one of obvious debt and partial estrangement. Not the least significant feature of his work is his bold and extensive internal critique of the liberationist tradition from a post-colonial perspective. In US academia the institutional rewards accruing to any intellectual phenomenon in the humanities seem to be in inverse proportion to its ability to influe.