BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS AND THE EVOLUTION OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION

Abstract

This paper explores the foundational role of biblical hermeneutics in shaping the intellectual, moral, and political trajectory of Western civilization. By tracing the evolution of scriptural interpretation from early Christian exegesis to Reformation-era transformations, and later Enlightenment critiques, the article highlights how biblical texts were not merely religious documents but instruments of societal reform and philosophical development. Through a hermeneutical lens, the Bible contributed to evolving concepts of justice, individual freedom, scientific inquiry, and modern democratic ideals. The study emphasizes the necessity of understanding theological roots in the historical and cultural emergence of the West, revealing the deep interdependence of faith and reason in the growth of Western thought.