Should We Be Teaching the Historical Critical Method?

• Published in: Teaching theology & religion Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 162 - 187
• Main Authors: Adam, A.K.M., Ascough, Richard, Gravett, Sandra, Hunt, Alice, Martin, Dale, Wimberly, Edward, Yang, Seung Ai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2009; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: Art Education; Bible; Biblical Literature; Clergy; Conference Papers; Conferences (Gatherings); Focus Groups; Hermeneutics; Intermode Differences; Liberal Arts; Religious Education; Teaching Methods; Theological Education; Theological schools; Transcripts (Written Records)
• ISSN: 1368-4868; 1467-9647
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9647.2009.00502.x

This manuscript is an edited transcript of a panel discussion held at a Society of Biblical Literature conference (Boston, Massachusetts, November 22 to 24, 2008). Alice Hunt begins the discussion by summarizing the content and significance of a new book by Dale Martin, The Pedagogy of The Bible (Westminster John Knox Press, 2008) in which he argues that biblical studies in seminaries and divinity schools give too much emphasis to teaching the historical critical method and not enough to preparing students for ministry by teaching them to be self‐reflective practioners of the improvisational skills of interpreting scripture. Then a panel of bible scholars, including the author, conduct a wide‐ranging discussion that raises questions about how biblical studies might better prepare students for ministry, as well as the proper role and appropriate pedagogies for introducing biblical studies in the undergraduate liberal arts curriculum.