One was pleased to find the following in a recently-released popular-level work, wherein the importance of historical-culture context and exegesis is emphasised:
LOOKING THROUGH THE PROPER LENS
One of the temptations
is to look at ancient or historical events and scriptures through the lens of
current times, demographics, and belief systems. Some become perplexed and even
heated at directives and choices made by individuals living in an entirely
different time period and set of circumstances. Society often attempts to white-wash
history, wanting to forget that current culture and more came out of the past, including
the good, the bad, and the ugly.
It must be remembered
that context is king; that historical and cultural perspectives must be taken
into account for greater and clearer understanding. People are not, and never
were, perfect. Societal progress, including Latter-day Saint traditions, isn’t
perfect, but it helps to understand why things happened in the culture of that
time period.
We don’t have to
agree with decisions and choices made at the time. We just need to understand
the context in which they were made. This is often done with scripture. A
European-based culture took a repeatedly translated scripture (the Bible) and
covered it with a heavy film to view it through. The original Hebrew roots and
culture that the biblical scripture was originally dictated into is often
misunderstood or ignored. Latter-day Saints already recognize that belief in
the Bible is predicated upon the correctness of its translation.
The narrative of Adam
and Eve is no exception. Much of mainstream Christianity, from the earliest of
times, has superimposed cultural views of women (and the role of a wife) onto
the account, interpreting biblical consequences as it could fit into already
established ideas, lifestyle, and stereotypes. The history of Adam and Eve is
as much shaped and created by past—and contemporary—culture as current culture
has been shaped by varied theological interpretations. (Rammona Siddoway, We
Are Adam: The Partnership of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and What it
Mean For You [Springville, Utah: CFI, 2020], 23-24)
