THE OPPRESSIVE ELEMENTS UNDERLYING REBUKING OF CHILDREN A CRITICAL READING OF MARK 10:13-16 THROUGH THE LENSES OF OTHERING IN SOCIO-SCIENTIFIC AND POSTCOLONIAL HERMENEUTICS

Abstract

This study explores the oppressive elements underlying the othering elements in the pericope of Mark 10:13-16, which led Jesus Christ to tell His disciples, “Permit the little children to come to me; do not hinder them!” (‘Ἄφετε τὰ παιδία ἔρχεσθαι πρός με, μὴ κωλύετε αὐτά’) when analysed critically through the lenses of the othering in socio-scientific and postcolonial hermeneutics. The researcher uses both the socio-scientific theory of criticism and postcolonial criticism to identify the othering oppressive elements and submits an application of the findings in the contemporary African context. In the analysis, the researcher considers what the pericope of Mark 10:13-16 meant there and then that is the world behind the text, which is the Markan audience and what it means here and now to the current hearers and readers, referring to the world in front of the text. The researcher then proposes solutions to the oppressive elements especially when the pericope is re-read in the African context through the lenses of the othering in socio-scientific and postcolonial hermeneutics. The researcher is guided by the following objectives: First, is to identify the oppressive elements underlying the othering in the pericope of Mark 10:13-16 using the lenses of socio-scientific and postcolonial hermeneutics. Secondly, the researcher analyses the otherings in the pericope of Mark 10:13-16 critically through the lenses of othering in socio-scientific and postcolonial hermeneutics. Thirdly, the researcher determines the implications of the oppressive elements in the pericope of Mark 10:13-16 using the othering in postcolonial hermeneutics. Lastly, the researcher proposes an alternative reading/re-reading of the pericope of Mark 10:13-16 for the African context. In Chapter One: the researcher provides an introduction and background to the study by giving an overview of the whole research. As such, the chapter provides the statement of the problem, the objectives of the study and the research questions as well as the purpose, significance, scope and limitations of the study. In Chapter Two: This section contains literature review. The relevant existing literature on the oppressive elements underlying the otherings in the pericope of Mark 10:13-16. The chapter has been structured in line with the objectives and the research questions formulated for this study. Chapter Three: This chapter discusses the methodology of this research as well as the justification for the choices made. Chapter Four: This concerns the exegesis of Mark 10:13-16. This section deals with the results in meaning of words used in the biblical languages and, in this case, the Koine Greek, which is an in-depth exegetical analysis of the guiding pericope of Mark 10:13-16 from the original Greek language using the lenses of othering in socio-scientific and postcolonial hermeneutics and the deliberations of the oppressive elements categorized. The identified oppressive elements underlying the rebuking of the children in the pericope of Mark 10:13-16 are: Ambivalence, hybridity and mimicry; powerlessness of the children and economic oppression; domination and class oppression (classism); cultural imperialism and religious persecution; violence against children (ageism) GBV and marginalization and institutionalized oppression. The researcher suggests a re-reading of the pericope of Mark 10:13-16 through the lenses of the postcolonial and socio-scientific hermeneutics in the African contemporary society as a solution to curtail the oppressive elements. Chapter Five presents the conclusions and recommendations that can be made from this study, again potential areas of further study are highlighted in this chapter