Guest Speaker: Marina McClure - "Reading with Curiosity"

In her sermon, Marina McClure spoke about the often unconscious assumptions we might make while we read the Bible. She specifically pointed out assumptions we might make about the underlying motives behind social interactions and/or the tone of voice being used in different exchanges. What are your thoughts about these ideas and the examples she gave from today’s scripture reading? To what extent have you considered tone of voice when reading Biblical dialogue? How often are you aware of assumptions you might be making when you read?  How often do you explore ideas about  the different possible underlying social norms and subtext? How easy or difficult does it seem to integrate this kind of slowed-down and curious exploration of different possibilities as you read the Bible? How appealing is it for you? How valuable does it seem?

In a couple places in the scripture’s story, Marina suggested alternative ways of understanding Jesus’ experience of the moment, or a variety of ways of interpreting what’s being communicated. What’s it like for you to encounter alternative frames for understanding often familiar Biblical stories or ideas? Do you experience any resistance or does it feel interesting? Does it seem difficult to consider things in that way? Are there things about your own personality or background that might be especially congruent with your response to this way of thinking about the Bible?

Marina invited us all to try to engage with the Bible in a way that intentionally looks for questions and tries to practice active wondering as we read. What thoughts & feelings surface in response to these suggestions? How do you feel about the idea of intentionally seeking things you can’t easily clarify? What do you think it might look like to try to engage in more “active wondering” as you read the Bible? What kind of impacts do you think this orientation toward reading the Bible could have for your own experience of the Bible and/or your faith?