Quick vocabulary lesson for you: Hermeneutics is the word theologians and ministers use to describe the study of interpretation of religious texts -- in most cases, the Bible. Scot McKnight, one of my favorite New Testament theologians and proprietor of the popular blog JesusCreed.org, has put together a handy interactive quiz that helps give some framework to the way you read the Bible. Do you approach it from a more literal, conservative viewpoint? From a progressive, liberal viewpoint? Do you read it at all? (If not, you'll be bored with the quiz.)
McKnight has said the point of the survey isn't to attach labels to people, but to start a conversation about what we do with the stuff written in the Bible. It's pretty simplified -- it sort of has to be -- but has some interesting questions and things to think about.
I'm interested in the scores of those of you reading this blog. Where do you rank along the hermeneutical spectrum? Take the test (it'll take about a minute) and post your score below.
Take the hermeneutical quiz here.
(HT: Longbrake)
Friday, March 14, 2008
Hermeneutics Quiz
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10 comments:
First commenter!
(Just kidding.)
I'll kick it off. I scored an 80. Progressive.
I got a 60. I'd like to see specifically how they got the score. Like if each question was 'worth' the same or if my answer to question 2 determined my score more than, say, question 14.
71 - Progressive.
The sound you hear is that of the Southern Baptist pastors of my mis-spent youth who are even now "gnashing" their teeth.
I have always loved the word "gnashing".
48
Conservative.But thats the Christian school I go to.
I got a 74. I hope that's good since I am your wife.
I scored a 90. We can talk about it when I sleep at your house and eat your food.
I think you'll find the most interesting part of this survey is to see the comments people make after they post their score, like "Just like I thought" or "riding the fence, as always". I think those phrases are more telling than the scores could ever be.
@Longbrake:
We will indeed discuss.
Perhaps I should have commented more after my score. Some options:
I scored 80...thus fulfilling prophecy.
I scored 80...sealing my eternal fate.
I scored 80...and I blame Tim LaHaye.
I scored 65...therefore I am moderate and extremely reasonable when it comes to the Bible.
68
You scored between 66 and 100, meaning you're a progressive on The Hermeneutics Scale.
This is pretty darned thought-provoking -- I'm going to get all of my friends to take this now so I can know exactly where they're coming from.
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