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Scriptural hermeneutics in the 8th-9th centuries, the stakes for an Islamo-Christian dialogue
First lines of the introduction
“Hermeneutics is one of the privileged places where the question of relation to the text arises. In Christianity as in Islam, the complexity lies in the way to approach a text that comes from God. To the extent that it reveals the word of God, the text requires another reality; it calls for a specific mediation that transforms the usual rules of textual hermeneutics. If it is given from eternity or if it is created in time, the status of a text of a religious type requires a treatment that is not confused with classical language procedures. Without wanting to develop here the contribution of a religious hermeneutic to the science of language, it is a question of identifying how the way of considering a text transforms not only the status of its transmitter, but also and especially the conception of revelation. How does religious hermeneutics involve the involvement of reason in the search for meaning? What approach to God, self and the other appear in this exercise practiced since the writing of the founding words?”
Premières lignes de l’introduction
“L’herméneutique est un des lieux privilégiés où se pose la question du rapport au texte. En christianisme comme en islam, la complexité réside dans la manière d’approcher un texte qui provient de Dieu. Dans la mesure où il révèle la parole de Dieu, le texte requiert une réalité autre ; il réclame une médiation spécifique qui transforme les règles habituelles de l’herméneutique textuelle. S’il est donné de toute éternité ou s’il est créé dans le temps, le statut d’un texte de type religieux exige un traitement qui ne se confond pas avec les procédures linguistiques classiques. Sans vouloir développer ici l’apport d’une herméneutique religieuse à la science du langage, il s’agit de repérer comment la façon de considérer un texte transforme non seulement le statut de son transmetteur, mais aussi et surtout la conception de la révélation. Comment l’herméneutique religieuse met-elle en jeu l’implication de la raison dans la recherche du sens ? Quelle approche de Dieu, de soi et de l’autre apparaissent dans cet exercice pratiqué depuis la mise par écrit des paroles fondatrices ?”
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