Dancing with the Divine: Towards a Hermeneutic of Mystery

Abstract

This thesis explores the limitations of language in expressing the Divine and proposes a hermeneutic of mystery grounded in Narrative Theology and midrashic imagination. Drawing on the work of theologians, philosophers, and literary scholars—including Alister McGrath, Iain McGilchrist, Herbert McCabe, and Robert Alter—it argues that the literary and narrative dimensions of Scripture are not mere aesthetic choices, but vital theological tools for approaching the ineffable. Through the lens of Narrative Theology, the paper contends that stories, metaphors, and parables offer a more faithful means of engaging transcendent truth than abstract doctrines alone. Mystery, far from being a hindrance, is framed as a necessary component of faith, inviting humility, communal interpretation, and spiritual transformation. The thesis culminates in a creative act of midrash, giving voice to marginalized women in the biblical narrative through poetry. These reimaginings serve as theological responses to the silences in Scripture, modeling a faithful wrestle with the Word that is both critical and devotional. In doing so, this work offers a vision of theology as a dynamic, imaginative, and participatory dance with the Divine.