I’m reading through Philip Harland’s Dynamics of Identity in the World of the Early Christians: Associations, Judeans, and Cultural Minorities, kindly sent along to me by T & T Clark for review, and I’d like to first highlight his excellent introduction, which provides a very helpful review of scholarship on social-scientific issues, identity theory, and associations in the ancient world.
I thought this paragraph, in particular, was a well-stated and well-balanced approach to the use of social-scientific methods in biblical studies:
Building on contributions from both of these scholarly areas [social history as (1) "from below" scholarship or (2) social scientific research], I approach the social sciences as heuristic devices, as things that help the social historian develop questions and find or notice things that might otherwise remain obscure. I tend to draw on social-scientific insights to develop a research framework for analysis, and I am less focused than some other scholars on testing models specifically. In this respect, I consider myself more a social historian than a social scientist. Throughout this interdisciplinary study, I explain and adapt social-scientific concepts and theories in order to further our understanding of specific historical cases in the ancient context. [5]
Though I am nowhere near as accomplished as Harland in the field social-scientific research, of course, I feel like he took the words right out of my mouth.
When reading this and other discussions of social science, I get the impression that the object of the game is to cram as many words as possible into the tiniest of concepts.
I have benefited from Harland’s work and am also reading his new book. I find that he communicates more efficiently and with more precision in his podcasts, where he dumbs things down, and in his blog posts, than in his books. Nevertheless, his books are a good resource and I’m glad to hear that they are being read.
Hi Pat,
I am very happy you posted this. Having studied under Prof. Harland, and heard a few talks, I am excited to learn about his latest monograph. If you ever have the hankering to post more as you go, I would gobble it up. If you rather write your review first, I would love to know where it will be published. I am fascinated by identity and ethnicity as topics, and how different scholars use social science research in their studies. I believe there is room for many different techniques (I know I am helplessly general here).
Anyway,
Thank you Pat for posting this!
Michael
Thanks, Michael. I’m glad to hear your interest. I didn’t realize that you were a student of Harland’s. The review will be posted here on the blog, actually, so be on the lookout.
Pat: Thanks for discussing the book (and I’m not only saying that because you say positive things).
Michael: you may get indigestion.
Richard: touche.
Hi Phil,
Thanks for stopping by! The blog has been pretty slow lately, as is characteristic of the beginning of a new quarter here at UCLA. I hope to be doing more work with your book soon.
Peace,
Pat