In reading De La Torres Reading The Bible From The Margins, the reader is able to develop a better understanding of the viewpoints of marginalized groups. De La Torre exemplifies throughout his book that marginalized people groups ideas are often overlooked throughout society. This especially occurs when interpreting the ways in which the Bible has been examined. De La Torre, an assistant professor of religion at Hope College in Holland, Michigan began writing this work while instructing a freshman course by the same title as the previously mentioned work. He invites the reader into his book by introducing us to the main point that he wants to get across to his audience which is addressing marginalized people groups in correlation to studying the Bible. This specific piece is directed at Christians of privileged white and Euro American cultures and aims to provide them with a sense of understanding for those who are a part of one of these minority groups. De La Torre addresses that there are many interpretations of the Bible and interpretations of the Bible by minorities are often silenced by those in privileged positions. This book challenges the reader to take on a different viewpoint and try to see things from someone's perspective of those who are poor and oppressed so that they can hopefully gain a better understanding of their own faith. He states that his text does not challenge Scripture, rather it challenges how dominant culture has persuaded us into believing that there is only one meaning behind the Scripture.
In the first chapter, De La Torre defines for us a few things that need to be understood before taking on his novel; defining terms, defining racism, the factor of language, han reading, and multiple consciousness. Han reading, as defined by De La Torre, “encompasses the feelings of resentment, helplessness, bitterness, sorrow, and revenge that are felt deep in the victim’s guts” (pp.26), in other words, han reading is a way of life for hurt people to sympathize for other hurt people. Another strong point De La Torre makes in regards to han he states, “The ability to recognize han initiates a healing where the wounded are able to heal the wounds of others” (pp.26). In predefining these terms a reader will have a better understanding of the stance that De La Torre takes when examining what the margins have to offer. The angle at which the author takes his stance is quite surprising. De La Torre is very straightforward and on the second page of this book states that, “not all interpretations are true and authoritative” (pp.2) and that “all biblical interpretations are valid to the one who is doing the interpreting” (pp.1). With this a tone is set for the book, a tone that De La Torre takes very seriously. He states that the dictionary, although thought to be objective, with everything that it include is in itself subjective. De La Torre states that in the dictionary black can be defined as dirty, wicked, or cheerless and depressing while the term white is defined as pure, innocent, or free from evil intent. Just in this we are able to understand the point that De La Torre is attempting to make. In a society controlled by a dominant majority of Euro American culture it’s easy to understand where he’s coming from, considering he himself is part of a marginalized group of society as well. De La Torre challenges past interpretations of the Bible and examines the view of African Americans, Latinos/Latinas, the gay community, and the poor. This book really exemplifies the ways in which many of these marginalized groups interpret Scripture and how it affects them spiritually.
Two of the chapters in De La Torre’s book address issues regarding sexism, classism, and racism in scripture. He helps the reader to better understand racism by saying, “…she or he still contributes to racism by complicity with the present power structures designed to protect power and privilege in certain geographical locations” (pp.21). Overall, De La Torre indicates that being racist solely is defined by profiting from being a higher class, sex, or race from another human being.
One of the interesting things that De La Torre does in this book, is that he takes the figure of Jesus and challenges the reader to see Jesus from a different viewpoint; as a different person entirely. De La Torre challenges the classic image of Jesus and interprets the Son in a variety of sex, race, and class; a black Jesus, a female Jesus, a Latino Jesus, and a gay Jesus. De La Torre expresses that the current image of Jesus is not relatable and does not look like anyone familiar. He continues expressing that more often than not the people creating the image of Christ desire for Him to appear like them, white. Although, he conveys that most people who are currently living in the margins do not interpret a white Jesus to be one who is a savior or even a safe place due to the fact that their oppressors often looked like the “white” Jesus that is portrayed in media today. For Jesus to be accessible to all he need to be “seen, perceived, and understood through the eyes of the marginalized” (pp.105). De La Torre is stating that Jesus is a person who resonates with all other peoples, no matter what part of society one belongs to. It is through the eyes of these marginalized peoples that we find many spiritual interpretations that we as a Christian religion have held true for hundreds of years.
In reading this work by Miguel De La Torre my eyes were really opened to many ideas that I often overlooked. Being a part of a minority, I am somewhat able to resonate with some of the things that De La Torre covered, but there was much that I was able to learn from this text and many angles which I had previously discredited. It was not a read that I was excited about but in the end I am glad I read this text and excited as to see how it will help me to better understand the books of Luke and Acts. Never had I thought to look at Christ from the view of someone different, or even to view Him as a woman, or a gay person, but this book has opened my eyes to the possibilities of Christ. Many of the points which he reviewed I agreed with but there was one in particular that I could not quite comprehend. One of the points that De La Torre makes, and is something in which I have a hard time swallowing, is his definition of racism. Essentially he is saying that one is a racist simply if the system works in their favor whether or not you are fighting against it or not. That definition becomes racist because it is based purely on your skin color as well. I think that racism is something that is more of a mix of both, and in-between. Racism is something of benefiting from your skin color, but not acknowledging the injustice or trying to right the wrongs that are occurring. It is the unwillingness to reach out across cultural and racial borders and understand those different than you. People can be racist without outright hating someone, but I don't think we should label someone racist simply because of the color of their skin.
De La Torre is an amazing writer and his insight into the cultures that guide our interpretation of scripture are astounding. He has provided a framework for anyone to be able to understand the Bible from viewpoints in which they cannot experience firsthand.