Campbell’s Tate develops course in hermeneutics

     It started with an interest on the part of two students who wanted to conduct an independent study on hermeneutics or the science and methodology of interpretation. Before long, other students became interested in the subject and a course was created by Dr. William Tate, associate professor of English at Campbell University. The course was offered for the first time last spring.
     “The way the whole thing came about was really interesting,” said Dr. Tate, who teaches freshman and sophomore English as well as upper level courses in literature. “When I teach an English class, I usually incorporate some consideration of the theological ideas that created the culture that produced the literature. In my classes, we talk about the relationship between what we believe and how we read. In the process of reading and interpreting, I always say something about the science of hermeneutics.”
      Hermeneutics is most often associated with interpreting biblical text, but it is a great course for English majors because it also expands students’ ability to interpret works of literature. “It is relevant to everything we read, hear and study,” said Dr. Tate. “It is even useful in conversing with someone we love.”
     The course is especially valuable to students who are going on to graduate school, Dr. Tate added. “All of my students who took the course seemed to have benefited from it. It seems to have proven relevant to their various areas of study.”
     The course syllabus requires students to study the works of philosophers, theologians and authors. Works by C.S. Lewis, John Milton, Wittgenstein and Paul Tillich are included in the study. The course in hermeneutics was offered as an elective and not as part of the core curriculum for either English or religion majors at Campbell. It is not being offered this fall, but Dr. Tate would like to see it offered again soon and even become a required course for both majors.
     Dr. Tate, who was associate pastor of Cornerstone Bible Church in Durham, N.C., holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Biblical Studies from Bob Jones University, another master’s in English from Duke University, and a Ph.D. in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His field of study is Renaissance Literature, and his book, “Solomonic Iconography in Early Stuart England: Solomon’s Wisdom, Solomon’s Folly,” was published in “Studies in British History,” volume 63. Dr. Tate has also published works in the journals, “English Literary Renaissance,” “Studies in English Literature 1500-1900,” and “Christianity and Literature.”
     Dr. Tate received the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence from Campbell in 2005. He is currently working on two book-length studies, “Christian Knowing and Christian Teaching,” and a study of Reformation theology and ethics.

Bulletin 0031-7/20/05