What Do You Read When You Read a Religious Text?

Abstract

In this essay some key characteristics of contemporary discourse on biblical hermeneutics and philosophical hermeneutics are identified. A redescriptive archaeology of hermeneutics is suggested. The key characteristics of hermeneutics are re-interpreted and critiqued in light of recent theories of religion and history. There are three domains of critical questions at issue in the open question posed to the practice of hermeneutics, namely 1) redescriptive theorising of religion as a social discourse; 2) the materiality of the tradition; and 3) revisioning history and the relationship to the past.