The Hermeneutics of Suspicion

Sor Juana read Scripture, philosophy, and theology not with naive reverence but with critical attention to power. She asked: who benefits from this interpretation? What are the alternatives? What does this text reveal about authority itself? This practice—hermeneutics of suspicion—is essential for authenticity across traditions. You inherit narratives, doctrines, and values that aren't neutral; they encode power relationships and someone's interests. Authentic engagement means reading against the grain, questioning official interpretations, noting what's excluded or minimized. This doesn't mean rejecting your traditions but reading them wisely. What does your family's narrative about success hide about failure? What does your religion emphasize about women or power? What does your culture celebrate while it silences? Sor Juana shows us that deep authenticity requires this critical literacy—understanding your traditions so well that you can see their constructed nature and choose which elements to inherit genuinely.