On Criticality

 

Although this is for PhD writers, I think the notion of "criticality" applies to our courses in Divinity School:

"Doctoral writers are expected to show “criticality” in their thinking and writing. But what does this actually mean?

Criticality has a specific academic meaning. A meaning that isn’t quite the same as the one that is in ordinary use. It’s a bit like “argument”. Outside the scholarly world, an argument is where people disagree with each other. Inside the scholarly world, an argument is about making a persuasive case, using evidence from published and new work to back an interpretation and claims being made. There’s a similar difference with criticality.

Ordinarily, being critical is taken to mean being negative or disapproving, perhaps expressing dislike. However, being critical can also mean analysing strengths and weaknesses, merit and faults. Think for example of food critics who offer their take on restaurants and how good the meals and service are. Or book critics who discuss the ways in which authors have dealt with their subject and how well they have constructed their text. It is this latter version of critical which is closest to the criticality so important in scholarly work.

In academic circles, criticality is a state of mind as well as a practice. Scholarly work is simultaneously appreciative and sceptical. Scholars read and use the work of others, but at the same time they don’t take any material at face value. We scholars continually evaluate our own and other people’s work. All of our texts for example are subject to continued scrutiny - every assumption and premise is up for examination. The conduct and credibility of research is always open to examination...."
(For the rest see the blog by Patter (Pat Thomson): criticality in the PhD – nine things to avoid)

 This could apply to reading the Bible. Thus, thinking critically while studying the bible has a certain public dimension. When you read the bible privately, you can derive meaning that might be meaningful and important to yourself. Yet when you discuss the meaning of the Bible critically, others should be able to engage with your evaluation of the text, and you need to provide reasoning to support your notions. So it is not a private matter anymore, and your thoughts will be examined by others/the public. Being critical means being open and accepting others/the public to evaluate your interpretation.