what your PhD research is about and why is it important?
The research investigates the ways Palestinian Christians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as a colonized and marginalized group of people interpret the Kingdom of God in the context of Israeli imperial colonization. It highlights that Palestinian Christians (scholars and ordinary readers) as a continuation of first-century Palestinians Jews and early Christian groups have an epistemic privilege due to their socio-cultural, geopolitical, and historical religious context. Therefore, their interpretation of the Kingdom promises to offer new insights to biblical texts, particularly in the Synoptic Gospels. The research also showcases that some western interpretations of the Kingdom are problematic. They justify the Israeli colonization of Palestine and the oppression of the Palestinian people.
What was the biggest surprise/challenge you encountered during the PhD trajectory?
The research applies empirical methods in order to offer a hermeneutical ethnography. One of the major challenges I encountered is to faithfully represent the voices of Palestinian Christian ordinary readers in a way that honors their interpretation. Doing so required deep reflection on my own biases. I also developed better appreciation for multivocality in biblical interpretations.
Were there others involved in your research project?
The research involved interviews with 4 groups of Palestinian Christian ordinary readers, and 5 interviews with Palestinian theologians and clergy.
How you are preparing for the defense?
Preparing for the defense was a tedious task, especially with the limited time (10 minutes) granted to present the research during the defense. I had to be selective and think carefully of snapshots of the methodology and the significant contribution of my research. I have written several drafts, and practiced them loudly and with others. Those practices helped me edit and time my presentation.
what your plans are for the future
My plans for the future are to expand on my research and consider publishing my thesis in two short volumes. My desire also is to do a postdoctoral study. Meanwhile, I continue to teach at Bethlehem Bible College and be involved in other local and global initiatives.
Interested in reading Yousef's dissertation? It is available via this webpage.
