HET STRUKTURALISME BINNEN DE EXEGESE: EEN VARIANT VAN HET BURGERLIJKE DENKEN

Abstract

SUMMARY Structuralism has, in a short time, achieved for itself a fixed place in exegesis. This wave of study necessitates a reflection with regard to what happens to biblical texts when the new methods are employed. What are the real values and interests of this exegesis? What are its ideological standards? The article hopes to show that, no matter how unhistorical and non-referential structuralism pretends to be, the majority of real structuralists borrow from bourgeois thinking. The author illustrates this debt by examining three recent studies, chosen with the criteria of language, variant methodology, representivity, level and quantity. After a description of the methodology used, which is intended to be a concrete application of Althusser's ideological criticism, the author proceeds to investigate Dan O. Via's The Parable of the Unjust Judge. A negative evaluation of actual reality seems to define the social position of this author. The parable is seen by him as a metaphor referring to those who are not prepared to commit themselves to a just world, who are alienated from themselves and from God, and who, at the same time, also know that in this they follow the wrong course. There is no real righteousness and engagement, only isolation and estrangement. The article demonstrates how this exegesis is fed by elements of the ruling bourgeois ideology. The study of J. Calloud, G. Combet, and J. Delorme Essai d'analyse sémiotique (Mk 5, 1–20) treats more or less the same theme as that of Via. It deals with society and social integration. The authors feel that human isolation can be overcome through mutual communication. They see society as an open communication system in which equality can be achieved only when man is ready to respect and obey the law. Their exegesis is a concrete application of that which can be found in Lacan and Lévi-Strauss. E. Güttgemanns, whose study Narrative Analyse des Streitsgesprächs über den ‘Zinsgroschen’ is discussed, seems to be an author who wishes to further reasonable rationality with his exegesis. Even his christology reflects this. According to him, Jesus is rightly an honest, understanding and reasonable man. Güttgemanns is interested in the way in which truth progresses before it comes to the light. His world picture is defined by the realities of information, empiricism, logic and rationality. When men have no realization of this, it costs them morality.