INTERPRETATION

INTERPRETATION
Is there any such that as fact?
The aim of the seminar was to explore notions of data, fact and interpretation
Is the bible a fact? What makes something a fact? Does a fact equal truth?
To fully understand these questions I think it is vital to define the word.
Fact-a truth known by actual experience or observation; something known to be true. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fact
Having defined fact, how do we as humans or theologians interpret these so called ‘facts’?
Take for example the Bible, it is a truth known because people experienced and observed it happening but when they write it down, it then becomes their own ‘interpretation’
Interpretation/ or to interpret- To explain or tell the meaning of; to expound; to translate orally into intelligible or familiar language or terms; to decipher; to define; -- applied esp. to language, but also to dreams, signs, conduct, mysteries, etc.; as, to interpret the Hebrew language to an Englishman; to interpret an Indian speech. http://www.brainyquote.com/words/in/interpret179946.html

And then over the years scholars have ‘translated’ these interpretations
(Translate-to turn from one language into another or from a foreign language into one's own. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/translate ) and this must make you think that surely some things are lost in translation as it is impossible to produce something as it once was in one language to a different language as different words mean slightly and sometimes completely different things. The subject of language is one that will be explored further in the next seminar but for now, it is the act of interpretation I will be discussing.
To talk about interpretation, it is only natural to mention Hermeneutics.
Hermeneutics (English pronunciation: /hɜrməˈnjuːtɨks/) is the study of interpretation theory, and can be either the art of interpretation, or the theory and practice of interpretation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeneutics
Hermeneutics is the art of interpreting. Although it began as a legal and theological methodology governing the application of civil law, canon law, and the interpretation of Scripture, it developed into a general theory of human understanding. http://groups.chass.utoronto.ca/iih/AboutHermeneutics.htm
I decided to pick out these two definitions because they are very connected to what was discussed in the seminar. What stands out to me in the two definitions is the ‘art of interpretation’ and ‘a general theory of human understanding’. The way I see it, Hermeneutics explains or tells the meaning of something in a way people can understand.
Hermeneutics recognizes the historicity of human understanding. Hermeneutics is in part the practice of historical retrieval, the re-construction of the historical context of scientific and literary works. http://groups.chass.utoronto.ca/iih/AboutHermeneutics.htm
Using hermeneutics to discuss the bible, we looked at accounts of the temptation story from 2 different sources- Mathew and Luke. One would think, they heard a story and therefore they wrote it down, simple. But is it that simple?
The primary importance there in relation to interpretation was the order in which the two stories were written. So bearing in mind that Matthew and Luke perhaps lived in two different villages with two different oral traditions, they ‘interpreted’ or edited these stories to sort of give out different meanings to the readers. Matthew seemed to be much more concerned with the relationship between Christianity and Judaism whilst Luke seemed to me more concerned with Christianity. One story- 2 interpretations. 2 different meanings.
The chain does not end there I don’t think. When we then read the words of the bible, we try to ‘interpret interpretations’ that is to say give it a personal spin and then you might ask yourself, then what right and wrung? What is the false? What is the truth? What is fact? As everything is clearly interpretive? I am exactly at that point, just wondering what makes sense and what doesn’t. I don’t think there is a right or wrung answer because: Nietzsche- everything is a matter of interpretation.
We all stand within a context and within a context we have a perspective from which to make an interpretation and that does not destroy a truth, I think in most cases it enriches it all we need do is to find a middle ground.