The Bible and Beyond Podcast Episode
Biblical Violence Can Be Helpful or Harmful According to the Way You Read It
An Interview with Karri Whipple, PhD
Karri Whipple, PhD (photo – L. Ellen)
Dr. Karri Whipple’s experience with intimate violence organizations guides her studies of violence and trauma in New Testament studies. She demonstrates how multiple readings from various Biblical and extracanonical texts help us process trauma. But readers should also take care to understand the context of the stories of gender and racial violence so that the examples do not become an excuse to perpetuate violence. Reading from a variety of perspectives also helps readers find many paths to the healing of trauma and pain.
Dr. Karri Whipple, Faculty Fellow of Liberal Arts at New York University, was drawn to her research on the presence and impact of biblical violence and trauma from hands-on experiences. She has worked with intimate violence organizations in New York City and advocated for gender justice and rights at the UN. She is passionate about communicating the depth of religious meaning.
This was most interesting. I particularly appreciated Karri’s explaining how our own perspective — our cultural, gender, socioeconomic background — determines how we read these texts; and that people of power generally interpret texts to justify whatever their position is. The delving into the original ending of the gospel of Mark, with the women running off and telling no one about the empty tomb, may relate to the troubled times during which Mark was written. Much to think about here.
Thank you, again, Shirley, for making these podcasts available.