Bible subversion : an ideology critique of the manner and motif behind the use of scriptures by politicians

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Authors

Speckman, McGlory

Journal Title

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Publisher

OpenJournals Publishing

Abstract

The use of biblical texts by politicians in recent years has led to a proliferation of critical publications by biblical scholars. Some focus on reconstructing the rhetoric itself, others on analysing the historical context while others still, on why and how the scriptures are used. A lack of an ideology critique dimension makes these analyses appear to be naïve to the extent that they miss the element of the subversion of scriptures by politicians who use them. Biblical texts on the whole, are a product of an anti-establishment culture and where they are appropriated by the establishment, a hermeneutic of suspicion should apply. This paper utilises ideology critique as it reflects on the manner and motif behind the use of scriptures by politicians. It concludes that scriptures are subverted in order to force them to serve ideological ends.

Description

Prof. Speckman is participating in the research project, ‘Studies on the Book of the Acts of the Apostles’, directed by Prof. Dr G. Steyn, Department of New Testament Studies, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria.

Keywords

Politicians, Proliferation, Scriptures, Ideology, Bible subversion

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Citation

Speckman M., 2016, ‘Bible subversion: an ideology critique of the manner and motif behind the use of scriptures by politicians’, HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies 72(1), a3185. http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.4102/hts.v72i1.3185.