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The Secrets of the Biblical Sons and Daughters: A Look Back
Prof. Dr. Sandra Hübenthal from the University of Passau explains biblical stories about sons and daughters. Insights on role and relationships in the context of Holy Scripture.
The Secrets of the Biblical Sons and Daughters: A Look Back
An exciting topic that comes up again and again in religious studies is the sons and daughters of the Bible. In a recent interview with Prof. Dr. Sandra Hubenthal The University of Passau particularly examines complex stories and their importance for understanding family units and relationships. While the Old Testament has many complex stories, the reports about sons and daughters in the New Testament are much more sparse.
Hübenthal explains that the Old Testament stories not only deal with obedience, but often also convey complex life stories. Examples of this include the stories of Lot's daughters choosing their father as a partner, the sacrifice of Jephthah, who sacrifices his daughter, and the tragedy of David and his daughter Tamar. The story of Dinah, Jacob's daughter, is also considered unknown by many, although it also holds remarkable lessons.
Family ties and the place of sons and daughters
In the biblical narrative world, the relationship between God and his people is illustrated by a special family metaphor. In the New Testament, this relationship reaches a climax when Jesus is referred to as the Son of God, signaling an exceptionally close emotional connection. In the Gospel of Matthew in particular, the idea that every person can become sons and daughters of God is strongly emphasized. It becomes clear here that the relationship between parents and children plays a central role - respect and understanding are the top priority.
However, the social roles of this time were strong. The biblical texts and their narrative threads show that sons often had more freedom of action, while daughters often remained in the background. Hübenthal also makes an interesting observation: It is difficult to imagine how Jesus' role as a daughter would have been perceived in society at the time; she believes a girl might not have received the same influence or recognition.
Biblical stories and their relevance today
The significance of biblical stories extends to the present day. They shape cultural memory and shape much of our exposure to literature, music and art. Biblical stories Although they are often taught in a simplified form in children's Bibles or in religious education classes, their themes, such as human experiences and emotions, continue to appeal and are processed in numerous artistic works. However, a survey shows that knowledge of these stories has declined sharply in Christian countries like Germany, especially in the East.
A point worth discussing remains how these narratives can be integrated into today's educational structures. While there have been calls for greater integration of the Bible into teaching in Italy, many are raising the question of how important Bible knowledge is for the social and spiritual development of future generations. Enriched by their imagination, Bible stories could help explore our contemporary values and family bonds.
This shows that the sons and daughters of the Bible are not just trapped in an old story, but can initiate a lively discussion about social roles, relationships and the understanding of family - entirely in the spirit of the human experiences presented in the stories.