Symbolic Interactionism in the Gospel According to John: A Contextual Study on the Symbolism of Water

Symbolic interactionism is a social-scientific perspective that seeks to describe how human beings create meaning with one another in their daily lives. Since the world is populated by symbols that characterize all interactions among living beings this book explores the importance of symbols and symbolic interaction while moving beyond the social sciences to theological studies. By examining the way symbolic interaction is portrayed among characters in the Gospel according to John in the water narratives this book argues that the Bible is a symbol that is itself full of symbols whose meanings are worthy of our study. Hence the interaction of characters in the Gospel of John and the whole Bible along with the symbols they use in their interactions demonstrates that symbolism is directly linked to human life because symbols are major means of communication and without symbols human beings are in chaos. Mligos work is a great contribution in the scholarship of Johns gospel. Employing social science approaches particularly the perspective of symbolic interactionism Mligo demonstrates that in Johns gospel water not only signifies purification and initiation but also life and healing discipleship of service abolition of boundaries that separate people based on their race and a vehicle through which people become members in Gods rule. This book is insightful intriguing and educative. I endorse it because it is good for students ministers and scholars as well. --Stephen S. Kimondo Lecturer in New Testament University of Iringa Tanzania Produced in a specific setting with a specific intent the possibilities inherent within the [Gospel of John] go beyond that original intent as the reader enters into the interpretive conversation. The reader may see possibilities in the text that are valid interpretations in his or her setting but which differ significantly from the writers intent by using the symbolic interactionism methodology. This book provides a road map how . . . in biblical interpretation. --from the foreword by Lechion Peter Kimilike ELIA SHABANI MLIGO is Senior Lecturer in Contextual Theology at the University of Iringas Amani Centre in Njombe Tanzania. He is the author of many articles and books including Jesus and the Stigmatized (2011) Writing Academic Papers (2012) Doing Effective Fieldwork (2013) and Elements of African Traditional Religion (2013).