scholarly journals Reading the wedding at Cana in Galilee (Jn 2:1–11) through the lenses of introverted sensing and introverted intuition: Perceiving text differently

2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie J. Francis ◽  
Adam J. Stevenson ◽  
Christopher F. J. Ross
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Psychological Type ◽  
Biblical Hermeneutics ◽  
Auxiliary Functions ◽  
Biblical Narratives

Working within the reader perspective approach to biblical hermeneutics, a series of empirical studies have tested the theory that the readers’ psychological type preference between sensing and intuition (the two Jungian perceiving functions) shapes distinctive readings of biblical narratives. More recently, closer attention has also been given to differentiation within these two perceiving functions of sensing and intuition with regard to their introverted and extraverted orientation. Against this background, the present study examines the distinctive reading of the Johannine narrative of the wedding at Cana, a passage rich in materials to engage the perceiving functions, by two groups whose dominant or auxiliary functions were introverted sensing and introverted intuition.Contribution: Situated within the reader perspective approach to biblical hermeneutics, the sensing, intuition, feeling, thinking (SIFT) method is concerned with identifying the influence of the psychological type of the reader in shaping the interpretation of text. The foundations of the SIFT approach distinguish amongst the four functions of sensing, intuition, feeling and thinking. The present study builds on this foundation by introducing the nuance of the orientation in which the function is expressed, in this case focusing specifically on introverted sensing and introverted intuition.

scholarly journals Five loaves and two fishes: An empirical study in psychological type and biblical hermeneutics among Anglican preachers

2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie J. Francis
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Type Theory ◽  
Psychological Type ◽  
Biblical Hermeneutics ◽  
Empirical Observation ◽  
Doctrine Of Creation ◽  
Liturgical Preaching

The sensing, intuition, feeling and thinking (SIFT) method of biblical hermeneutics and liturgical preaching has its roots in three fields: a theology of individual differences situated within the doctrine of creation, an application of Jungian psychological-type theory and empirical observation. The present study tested the empirical foundations for this method by examining the psychological-type profile of two groups of Anglican preachers (24 licensed readers in England and 22 licensed clergy in Northern Ireland) and by examining the content of their preaching according to their dominant psychological-type preferences. These data provided further support for the psychological principles underpinning the SIFT method of biblical hermeneutics and liturgical preaching.

scholarly journals Exploring Psalm 139 through the Jungian lenses of sensing, intuition, feeling and thinking

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie J. Francis ◽  
Greg Smith ◽  
Alec S. Corio
Keyword(s):  
Type Theory ◽  
Psychological Type ◽  
Sacred Text ◽  
Biblical Hermeneutics ◽  
Liturgical Preaching

Psalm 139 provides both great opportunities and huge challenges for the preacher. It is a Psalm crafted in four parts: part two is an imaginative and poetic affirmation of God’s omnipresence that engages the Jungian perceiving process; part four is a fierce and uncompromising diatribe against God’s enemies that engages the Jungian judging process. Interpretations of these two sections of the Psalm are explored among a sample of 30 Anglican deacons and priests serving as curates who were invited to work in small hermeneutical communities, structured according to psychological type theory and designed to test the sensing, intuition, feeling and thinking (SIFT) approach to biblical hermeneutics and liturgical preaching. The findings from the hermeneutical communities demonstrated that the poetic power of part two was perceived quite differently by sensing types and by intuitive types. The judgement against God’s enemies in part four was evaluated quite differently by feeling types and by thinking types. The implications of these different readings of sacred text are discussed in relation both to hermeneutical theory and to homiletic practice.

scholarly journals Sexting and Sexual Injustices against Women in Ghana: A Case of Biblical Narratives of Dinah And Tamar

2021 ◽  
pp. 20-26
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Twumasi-Ankrah ◽  
Joseph Gyanvi-Blay
Keyword(s):  
Narrative Criticism ◽  
Biblical Hermeneutics ◽  
Biblical Narratives ◽  
Ancient Times ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Sexual Stories ◽  
2 Samuel

This paper evaluates the place of justice in sexual interactions between males and females in Ghana in particular and in Africa in general. It discusses the unfairness inherent in cases of rape, adultery and divorce and sexting in Ghana in light of African Biblical Hermeneutics. The study has discovered that issues of sexual injustices date back to ancient times with sexting being its latest dimension, especially in Ghana. Sexual injustices in any form have both cultural as well as religious connotations. Employing Narrative Criticism on the sexual stories of Dinah and Tamar in Genesis 34 and 2 Samuel 13 respectively, the study has established that the culture from which the Christian scripture originated was chauvinistic. Undoubtedly, one of the most integral causes is inherent in interpretation. The authors have therefore advocated for a reconstruction of those texts and worldviews by incorporating hermeneutics of inclusiveness and equality before God, using Jesus as the standard. Keywords: Sexting, Sexual injustices, Biblical Hermeneutics, Biblical Narratives, Ethical.

scholarly journals Reading and proclaiming the Advent call of John the Baptist: An empirical enquiry employing the SIFT method

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie J. Francis ◽  
Greg Smith
Keyword(s):  
Type Theory ◽  
Church Of England ◽  
Psychological Type ◽  
Myers Briggs Type Indicator ◽  
Biblical Hermeneutics ◽  
John The Baptist ◽  
Type Indicator ◽  
Clergy Training ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church

Drawing on Jungian psychological type theory, the SIFT method of biblical hermeneutics and liturgical preaching suggests that the reading and proclaiming of scripture reflects the psychological type preferences of the reader and preacher. This thesis is examined among a sample of clergy (training incumbents and curates) serving in the one Diocese of the Church of England (N = 22). After completing the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the clergy worked in groups (designed to cluster individuals who shared similar psychological type characteristics) to reflect on and to discuss the Advent call of John the Baptist. The Marcan account was chosen for the exercise exploring the perceiving functions (sensing and intuition) in light of its rich narrative. The Lucan account was chosen for the exercise exploring the judging functions (thinking and feeling) in light of the challenges offered by the passage. In accordance with the theory, the data confirmed characteristic differences between the approaches of sensing types and intuitive types, and between the approaches of thinking types and feeling types.

scholarly journals The missionary journey of Mark 6 and the experience of ministry in today’s world: An empirical study in biblical hermeneutics among Anglican clergy

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie J. Francis ◽  
Greg Smith ◽  
Guli Francis-Dehqani
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Study ◽  
Biblical Interpretation ◽  
Psychological Type ◽  
Biblical Hermeneutics ◽  
Biblical Texts ◽  
Liturgical Preaching

This study explores the connection between dominant psychological type preferences and reader interpretations of biblical texts. Working in type-alike groups (dominant sensing, dominant intuition, dominant feeling and dominant thinking), a group of 40 Anglican clergy (20 curates and 20 training incumbents) were invited to employ their strongest function to engage conversation between Mark’s account of Jesus sending out the disciples (Mk 6: 6b–16) and the experience of ministry in today’s world. The data supported the hermeneutical theory proposed by the SIFT approach to biblical interpretation and liturgical preaching by demonstrating the four clear and distinctive voices of sensing, intuition, feeling and thinking.

scholarly journals Interpreting and responding to the Johannine feeding narrative: An empirical study in the SIFT hermeneutical method amongst Anglican ministry training candidates

2012 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie J. Francis
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Study ◽  
Type Theory ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Psychological Type ◽  
Biblical Hermeneutics ◽  
Ministry Training ◽  
Working Groups ◽  
Liturgical Preaching

Drawing on Jungian psychological type theory, the SIFT method of biblical hermeneutics and liturgical preaching maintains that different psychological type preferences are associated with distinctive readings of scripture. In the present study this theory was tested amongst two groups of ministry training candidates (a total of 26 participants) who were located within working groups according to their psychological type preferences, and invited to reflect on the Johannine feeding narrative (Jn 6:4−22), and to document their discussion. Analysis of these data provided empirical support for the theory underpinning the SIFT method.

scholarly journals Is God really good to the upright? Theological educators exploring Psalm 73 through the Jungian lenses of sensing, intuition, feeling and thinking

2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie J. Francis ◽  
Susan H. Jones ◽  
Christopher F. Ross
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Type ◽  
Biblical Hermeneutics ◽  
Divine Retribution ◽  
The Way

Psalm 73 is a challenging Psalm in which the Psalmist draws on rich imagery to juxtapose doctrine and experience and to juxtapose the goodness of God with divine retribution. Drawing on data provided by 15 theological educators within the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, this study tests the thesis that the imagery of Psalm 73 will be perceived differently by sensing types and by intuitive types and that the issue ‘Is God really good to the upright?’ will be judged differently by feeling types and by thinking types. The findings from this study are consistent with the broader hermeneutical theory that the psychological type profile of the reader, in terms of perceiving preference and judging preference, plays a formative part in shaping the interpretation of biblical material.Contribution: Situated within the reader-perspective approach to biblical hermeneutics, the SIFT method is concerned with identifying the influence of the psychological type of the reader in shaping the interpretation of text. The present study demonstrates that this theory holds true for the way in which theological educators read Psalm 73.

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