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Hermeneutics of Unity in and after Scripture

Major Book Review: Lauren Smelser White, “Flesh Made Word: The Protestant Interpretation Problem and an Embodied Hermeneutic” (Fortress Academic, 2022)

When: June 7, 2023, 4:15 pm - Wednesday

Where: LTL Main Hall

Session 2

Session Abstract

In her book, White seeks solutions to the “Protestant interpretation problem” defined as the as the difficulty of low church Protestants to find a common authoritative interpretation of scripture. White examines the works of Luther, Barth, Pannenberg, Frei, Balthasar, and Coakley to illuminate the problem and glean solutions. She concludes with an appeal to an “embodied” hermeneutic “continuously offered to God.” Employing Chauvet, White argues for a hermeneutic of interpreting scripture as dialogical sacramentality. Dialogue requires surrendering the goal of getting interpretation precisely “right.” Three respondents offer reviews of White’s work, followed by White’s reply.

Speakers

Daniel Oden, Harding University, Convener

  • Kindy De Long, Pepperdine University, Reviewer
  • Carl Flynn, Baylor University, Reviewer
  • Jared Saltz, Florida College, Reviewer
  • Lauren Smelser White, Lipscomb University, Respondent

2024 information coming soon!

1 / 5

James Cone with conferee at the CSC in 2017

2 / 5

Pulitzer Prize winner Marilynne Robinson delivering the CSC plenary address

3 / 5

Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), delivering the CSC plenary address.

4 / 5

US Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith delivering the CSC plenary address

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David Brooks engaging conferees during breakfast at the CSC

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