When he is not busy working with his beehives or lavender plants, Eric is in active conversation with the letters of Paul and ancient biblical purity laws. As the son of a Mexican immigrant and an American copper miner of Mexican descent, he has come to use his life-long experience of cultural liminality to find a deeper understanding of the boundaries of the sacred and profane in the book of Leviticus, and how early Christians interpreted these spheres of existence when considering the death of Jesus. His academic goal is to provide the tools of biblical scholarship to future leaders of the Latina/o church to help bridge the gap between the ancient laws and norms of the biblical world and modern society.
At BST, I have the opportunity to offer my seminary students a platform to express their cultural and religious views while presenting them with opportunities to dialogue with people and ideas different from their own. This exposure is invaluable in our era of change and diversity. Indeed, highlighting the importance of diverse cultural perspectives goes beyond assignments in my teaching methodology. As an instructor, I also stress to students the importance of finding their voice in academia and the church at large. Broadly speaking, my approach revolves around the concepts of cultural deconstruction and “common cultural themes” to challenge the Eurocentric and colonial conventions that dominate so much of Western biblical interpretation and theology.
2606 Dwight Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 841-1905
