Discovering the Bible in the Non-Biblical World

As a Chinese woman, a feminist theologian, and a biblical scholar, Kwok Pui-lan brings a new perspective and voice to the task of hermeneutics. Her multidimensional reading of the Bible draws on a tradition much older than that of the West while it simultaneously incorporates the insights of contemporary feminist and Third World theologies. Seeing herself as wanderer between the worlds of East and West, Kwok Pui-lan draws on the work of contemporary biblical scholars, as well as the millennia-old commentaries on the 'Book of Change', the 'Dao de Jing', and the 'Bhagavad Gita'. Her creativity and imagination come into play, as she gradually, inseparably links reader, text, and context. The first three chapters locate the context from which she approaches the Bible as an Asian woman. Kwok considers Asian traditions as well as the social biography of Asian peoples, and discusses the complex issues of using the Bible in feminist theology. Chapters Four and Five approach the unique Asian context with its long traditions of orality and exegesis of ancient scriptures. Chapter Six analyzes the challenges of Asian critics to western interpretations of scripture and raises sharp issues of colonial oppression. Finally, 'Discovering the Bible in the Non-Biblical World' shows how the multiple oppressions of women provide a context for rediscovering the Bible's liberating message.