성고정관념과 이분법적 젠더정체성을 기초한 성서해석 해체하기

Abstract

The present study aims to criticize Old Testament hermenuetics based on the dualistic heterosexual norm of gender. It explores the normative view that gender is male and female alone, a view that entrenches gender roles based on the notion of binary sexes. Instead, this study suggests we read the Bible through a gender spectrum, rather than assume a gender dualism, because this would reveal the diverse characters of gender and different aspects of life. For this purpose, this study first examines the diversity of gender in the Bible by delving into the appearance of androgynous figures in the Old Testament (Gen 1:28; 2:7; Prov 18:8; 19:15; 31:10-31). Then it investigates the fluid gender identity in the metaphors of God and two ancestral figures, i.e. Jacob and Joseph.<BR> The study employs feminist criticism and queer criticism. The word, ‘queer,’ which itself means strange, weird, rebellious, had been combined with theology and has three meanings. First it refers to talk about God and the interpretation of the Bible, reflecting the experiences of the LGBTIQA community. Second, it criticizes dualistic heterosexual gender views that are found in traditional theologies and biblical interpretations. Third, it applies queer theory to deconstruct heterosexual patriarchal norms of gender and explores different and diverse frames of gender in the Bible.<BR> The investigation of the fluid gender roles of God and the gender non-confirming characteristics of Jacob and Joseph deconstructs normal dualistic understandings of ‘male’ and ‘female.’ The description of the appearance and character of Jacob and Joseph is quite strange or weird to a modern reader who sees them as ‘typical male’ figures. Jacob is a girlish boy who has smooth skin, stays in the tent, the women’s place, and cooks. Joseph is a boy with ketonet passim, which was a garnet for girls in ancient Israel. He is compassionate, and a dreamer. Jacob, the father, blesses Joseph by the androgynous name of the deity, El Shaddai.<BR> Overall study shows that modern readers can see diverse gender spectrums in the Bible when they approach the Bible without dualistic patriarchal gender norms. Gender is not destined to be unambiguously male and female. Gender is confirmed in and by the society through performance.