@article{ref1,
title="Beyond Biblical Literalism and Inerrancy: Conservative Protestants and the Hermeneutic Interpretation of Scripture",
journal="Sociology of religion",
year="1996",
author="Bartkowski, John",
volume="57",
number="3",
pages="259-272",
abstract="This study highlights the limitations associated with sociological conceptualizations of &quot;biblical literalism&quot; and &quot;biblical inerrancy,&quot; and proposes an alternate theoretical model for illuminating conservative Protestant scriptural interpretations. In an effort to redress these conceptual limitations, I bring insights from the field of hermeneutics to bear on the literalism-inerrancy problem. Hermeneuticists maintain that a reader's interpretation of a text may be explained (1) by examining the presuppositions (or &quot;prejudices&quot;) which the reader brings to the text, and (2) by evaluating the circular process by which a reader imparts meaning to the text (i.e., the hermeneutic circle). After outlining the contours of the hermeneutic model of textual interpretation, I apply this model to explain contradictory scriptural interpretations advanced by leading conservative Protestants concerning (1) the concept of &quot;submission&quot; in conservative Christian marital relations, and (2) the role of corporal punishment in conservative Protestant parenting ideology. I conclude by specifying avenues for future research.<p />",
language="",
issn="1069-4404",
doi="10.2307/3712156",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3712156"
}