how individualism treats the patristics

caleb's dead on about how the modern/pomo (the latter more than the former) reader's hold their critique of the fathers' "bias" in one hand, like a bright, shiny apple, while (watch for it . . . ) the other hand sneaks in a little "autonomous reflection." i don't want to make it sound conspiratorial; most of it's probably innocent, even subconsciously done. but cutting ourselves off from the church's past, which is riddled w/ godly authors even aside from the fathers hall focuses on, risks losing our footing on the shoulders of those on whom we stand. the fathers did study scripture in secret, i'm sure, but they understand interp as "an ecclesiastical activity to be practiced in the church and for the church within the context of prayer and worship (preface, p. 9). individual study times, lecio divina, small-group bible studies are all good, and they give much to the collective wisdom of biblical interpreters; but to study only in those venues -- or w/o the necessary components of respect for scripture and obedience to it -- is far more prone to error than interpretation as a "communal act." (9)

@ the outset, however, we do well to heed luther's warning to let scripture stand above both the fathers (who were capable of fallacy) as well as above our modern, "enlightened" reason. (13) the sola boys, luther and calvin, didn't just jettison "the history, councils, creeds and tradition of the church, including the fathers' writings," instead they recognized the richness of the patristic writings that we ignore to our peril. (13-14) institutions that teach that hermeneutic do tend to cut theology off "from the very religious community in which theological exploration and reflection finds its roots." (15) oden's point is well taken: we risk developing myopia and becoming unable to see over the theological walls we've built w/ all our shiny new exegetical tools. we must, oden writes:

listen intently, actively, without reservation. listen in such a way that my whole life depended upon hearing. listen in such a way that i could see telescopically beyond my modern myopia, to break through the walls of my modern prison, and actually hear voices from the past w/ different assumptions entirely about the world and time and human culture. (18)

that's something i hope i can learn alongside you guys: the tell-tale signs of my own individuality as i interpret the text, and the cheap way i handle scripture when i don't really intend for it to inform my thoughts and shape my character. i'm gonna need a little help to get there, boys, but i agree w/ caleb that identifying the disease is the first step to finding good medicine.