Narrative theology–often pitted against propositional theology. The old-school claim is the basic idea that narrative is the literary form that dominates the literary topography of the Bible. Stories about God that contribute to The Story, God’s Story, the story that God has for us.

Book-Mimesis-Auerbach–there’s something deeper and broader about bible stories. There’s a greater depth the the history, the time, and the consciousness. Compares it to Homer–something runs deeper. No book tells the story of love better than the Bible. People start to resonate with them and start to hear God–an inner consistency of reality (Tolkien), whereas at one time it looked like folly.

 

Exclusive/Inclusive. To show inclusivity is to look at Scripture as a whole–meta truth and the cross and the Savior that makes sense. But it has to complete all the other incomplete.

 

Narrative theology at its best:

  • It’s the enlightenment that causes the emphasis on proposition alone as it influences theology. Head without a heart (even though stories can have both). Hijacked Christian theology.
  • Push toward narratology can become postmodern, but (according to McGrath):
  1. Narrative theology reminds us that there is story behind most biblical language (Mark Turner–“The Literary Mind”-story is fundamental).
  2. Narrative theology help us avoid the dulling sense of abstraction that can come from propositional theology by itself. Brings the imagination back to the forefront to apply propositional truths (and even commands).
  3. Narrative theology gives us a focus on history. God actually meets us in history. Especially with the incarnation–myth become fact. Makes us cognizant that history matters.
  4. Narrative theology accepts the irony of limited knowledge.

 

Narrative is something that segue ways into postmodern culture. A story behind art–a metaperspective. Adding some to Tolkien–there are different types and stages of narrative.

Primary, secondary and anti-narrative:

  • Primary–God’s story writ large. The Story.
  • Secondary–sub-creation. We have a chance to create and to tell stories. Point back to God (the good ones do–others maybe run neutral. Others seem to slide down……)
  • Anti-narrative-What you find in postmodern cultural. Storytelling that tries to attack narrative.

Pulls people away from primary narrative, takes away the narrative impulse that is part of the literary mind. The way out is through the transnarrative. Something a little more radical–go simple. Tell a simple story that reminds people of a good story with a happy ending–stories matter–they make a difference. No one can deconstruct it–you really can’t read it at its margins or turn it on itself. invigorates the narrative impulse. But now a lot of people are afraid of it.