Men, Spirituality, and Gender-specific Biblical Hermeneutics
By (author) A.M. Kummer
With the rise of feminism, issues of gender have become more important in many walks of life, but the specific problems and challenges faced by men have not attracted much scholarly interest in theology. This book looks at the challenges for men as described in popular and academic publications. Masculinity is understood as the open, performative, and transformative self-project of the individual person. As many contemporary men suffer from pathologies – loneliness, emotional repression, addiction, depression, alienation from self and others – that are often rooted in misguided masculinity codes that emphasize self-sufficiency, aggressiveness, and competition, they need to free themselves from such self-expectations and turn towards a spirituality of healing and flourishing. The reading of biblical texts can help them. Critical reading and group discussion of biblical stories allow men to examine and address fundamental questions about their own identity. To help men benefit from scriptural narratives, the author proposes a new method of biblical interpretation: Readers of biblical texts should pay careful attention to ideology, to the interests that have shaped the text, and to how the text can influence the reader today. Secondly, readers should scrutinize the text for its vision of the future and for messages of hope. Finally, readers should look in the text for instances of, and invitations to, personal change and transformation. The author critically reviews a small selection of men-specific readings of biblical texts by biblical scholars and demonstrates how biblical exegesis yield new insights by taking on board the key elements of a gender-specific biblical hermeneutics for men. This book adds to the tools of modern Biblical exegesis the lens of gender-specific reading strategies for working-age men. Situated in the borderlands of biblical and practical theology, it provides fresh impetus both to exegesis and to the pastoral care of men.
- By (author) A.M. Kummer
Other Titles in this Series
Heurs et malheurs de la “collégialité”
Pontificats et Synodes face à la réception de Vatican II
Volume 69
More than a Memory
The Discourse of Martyrdom and the Construction of Christian Identity in the History of Christianity
Volume 51
Das Konzil und die Seminare
Die Ausbildung der Priester in der Dynamik des Zweiten Vatikanums
Volume 48
The Gospel Preached by the Deaf
Proceedings of a Conference on Deaf Liberation Theology held at the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium), May 19, 2003
Volume 52
From Here and There
Speaking about Religion with Adolescents with a Migration Experience to Europe
Volume 86
Religion under Siege II
'Protestant, Orthodox and Muslim Communities in Occupied Europe (1939-1950)'
Volume 56
Theologie als geloofsvertolking
Historische en theologische reflecties over het proefschrift van Piet Schoonenberg
Volume 73
Marriage – Divorce – Remarriage. Mariage – Divorce – Remariage
Challenges and Perspectives for Christians. Defis et perspectives chretiennes
Volume 58
Volk Gottes in Afrika
Die Rolle der Laien in der pastoralen Erneuerung von Kardinal Malula, Kinshasa
Volume 60
Syncretisme / Syncretism
Echec ou promesse d'inculturation? / Failure or Opportunity for Inculturation?
Volume 75
Evaluating Liturgical Reform
Four Criteria Derived from a Theological Concept of Tradition
Volume 84
Faith and Culture
The Construction of a Christian Identity in Interaction with the Other World Religions in Education
Volume 54
Religion, Violence, and Peacebuilding. Religions, violence et construction de la paix
Realities, Perspectives, and Prospects. Contextes, regards et perspectives
Volume 80
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