#47279
andrew
Member

James explains that reading the texts through the eyes of the Forgiving Victim is a particular option for interpretation. What difference does this option make to how we interpret Scriptures?
Reading scripture doesn’t have to be a theological exercise. It does not have to be a matter of distinguishing two gods from one another or about outlining a consistent theodicy. When we adopt the position of the forgiving victim, reading scripture might be nothing more than perceiving with greater and greater clarity what it is we do to maintain order in our community.

What unheard voices might emerge using this option?
If it were the voice of an indignant victim that emerged, then we would have a voice that we must either silence completely or a voice we would need to burnish beyond recognition. For if the indignation in a victim’s voice is heard and believed, we would be turning ourselves turn toward revenge. Internecine violence would escalate among ourselves without restraint. If we forgo listening to the voice altogether, then a community of people proceeds in ignorance not knowing the full story of what made us a community of people. The only way for us to hear the truth about the source of human being (and live through it) is to hear it from a forgiving victim.

How does reading Scripture as progressive revelation help us discover new and more true things about God and ourselves?
It allows God to be a subject who guides our reading of scripture, rather than taking God merely as an object which is spoken about in scripture.