Reading the New Testament from the perspective of social theory of institutionalization

Abstract

The objective of this article is to approach the interpretation of the Christian Bible from the perspective of the sociological process of the development from authority to power. Firstly, a hypothesis with regard to a postmodern, demystifying reading of the Christian Bible will be posed. Secondly, the use of terms and concepts will be clarified. Thirdly, the focus will be on the development from authority to power. Exposing the ideological interests underlying social processes is called demystification. In the article the social theory of Max Weber with regard to institutionalization, power and authority will be discussed and applied in a heuristic model for the interpretation of the New Testament within the framework of social processes. The model focuses on the Jesus movement as a process of revitalization within Judaism.