Browsing by Author "Lungu, James"

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    Socio-cultural and gender perspectives in John 7:53-8:11 : exegetical reflections in the context of violence against women in Zambia
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-02-18) Lungu, James; Mouton, Elna ; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Old and New Testament.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Considering the numerous moral dilemmas facing the world of the twenty-first century, gender-based injustice is just one such example, and can be seen in the many occurrences of male violence against women. This has become a daily reality for women across the globe, and in Zambia in particular. This real life concern is on the increase and continues to affect various aspects of women’s lives, such as their social, economic, physical, and spiritual well-being – even to the point of death. I began this research project with a brief excerpt of my own personal story and exposure to such violence within my own family and community. The dilemma of male violence against women is not just a contemporary matter confined to our present age. It can be traced as far back as the first century Jewish context in which Jesus lived and ministered. The Bible – a Christian document written from a pre-dominantly male perspective – has passages that elevate the status of men over that of women, creating a platform conducive to female oppression. Although the focus here has been on gender inequality, there are, however, some Scriptures that appear to speak of gender equality. In spite of the latter, gender inequality in the Bible is often (over)emphasised and interpreted in a way that a number of scholars have identified as a literal approach to biblical interpretation. In this study, I ascribe this one-sided view as the main cause of gender-based violence against women in Zambia. This study adopted John 7:53-8:11 as the potential text to address the moral dilemma of gender-based violence against women. A multi-dimensional exegetical method of study with three dimensions, namely: literary (cf. chapter 2), socio-cultural and historical (cf. chapter 3), as well as the theological-rhetorical dimension (cf. 4) was adopted in the quest to find a well-balanced method for reading biblical texts that are life-giving in terms of addressing these ethical challenges of gender violence. Upon exegetical reflection, the outcomes of the above-mentioned dimensions were noted in their appropriation within the Zambian context of gender-based violence against women (cf. chapter 5). The relevance of the study in view of John 7:53-8:11 to both the Johannine and Zambian context is as follows: the scribes and the Pharisees’ appeal to the Law of Moses in condemning an adulterous woman in the absence of the man she is accused of committing the act with, opened up discussions on the probable socio-cultural and gender perspectives which facilitated and endorsed their actions. The first century context of the Mediterranean world in which I situate Johannine story viewed people in terms of gender. This often led to men being advantaged over women in terms of their prescribed roles, duties, as well socio-cultural and gender expectations. Although this seemed to have been the normal way of life, Jesus challenged it through what I regard as two rhetorical strategies, that of his posed silence and re-interpretation of the Law of Moses, which was life giving for the victim who was then set free. The story of the adulterous woman brings relevance to the Zambian context with regards to the abuse of women through gender-based violence, owing to socio-cultural and gender values that advantage men over women. The role Jesus plays in the story restores the human dignity of the victim, bringing hope to both victims and the church in Zambia in their fight against this vice. Most of all, the church is challenged to adopt a balanced method for interpreting the Bible, which – if interpreted incorrectly – remains a potential document for gender abuse.