One of the options available for closing a question reads, "Questions about biblical topics but without a specific Bible passage are off-topic as hermeneutical methods cannot be applied when no text is referenced."
But elsewhere it states that "Questions that do not arise from a Biblical text are off-topic unless they are about hermeneutical approaches."
Shouldn't the above criterion be reworded? It seems to conflict with the site's guidance as is.
Shouldn't the above criterion be reworded? It seems to conflict with the site's guidance as is.
There is no conflict.
The universe of questions can be partitioned in two sets: One set consists of "questions about specific passages of the Bible", and the other consists of "the rest of questions". The former is on topic by default whereas the rest is on topic only if "about hermeneutical approaches". The component of hermeneutics underlies both sets in a modality that, respectively, is applied or theoretical.
Both criteria could be consolidated as "Questions that neither provide a specific passage of the Bible nor are about hermeneutical approaches are off-topic.", although the current wording has its merits because it explains why questions about biblical topics without a specific passage are considered off-topic.
Is this criterion for closing a question invalid?
It is unclear to which criterion you are referring, so I will address each one.
Questions about biblical topics not only are overly broad, but they also tend to trigger debate, and involve inconsistencies between books of the Bible. Many of these inconsistencies happen because different books of the Bible address different issues and different contexts. Other times a book contradicts itself. The only way to narrow down the scope of a question about an otherwise broad topic is by pointing to specific passages of the Bible. Only to specific passages can hermeneutical principles be applied.
By contrast, questions about hermeneutical approaches do not tend to be overly broad. These questions generally focus on concepts and consistent principles with which to analyze a text.
As a non-professional, non-scholarly newbie, maybe I can provide insight from this point of view. Some people like me genuinly want the opinion of experts like yourselves on a biblical subject or question. But fear of doing it wrong, and being shut down or shut out, can be very daunting and feel hurtful. When I had a question closed, being the sensitive soul I am, I left for a while and have more or less stayed in the background and only watched and read other’s posts ever since. Especially since in some of my reading I’ve been bewildered to see a bit of disparity between posts left open and posts closed, because sometimes there doesn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason for it and it can feel selective, even though it likely isn’t. I hope no one feels like I’m being accusatory because I’m not, I’m just simply sharing thoughts and feelings in hopes it brings a little insight to you professionals. Thanks for listening.
"Questions about biblical topics but without a specific Bible passage are off-topic as hermeneutical methods cannot be applied when no text is referenced."
This statement is technically untrue and creates confusion, so the OP is right to question it. I wouldn't say the two statements conflict with each other but the first statement does need to be improved.
My reasoning: Experts can usually figure out the passage/s users refer to with little trouble and are therefore able to apply hermeneutical methods without a reference in the question itself. Therefore only questions whose references are extremely difficult to discern need to be considered off-topic.
More important, questions without specific references are often asked by relatively new users, and it is extremely discouraging for them to have their first questions closed. As much as possible, expert users should help new users improve their question rather than declaring them off topic and/or voting to close them.
I suggest adopting a tolerant attitude toward imperfect questions, especially from new users. Here is my suggestion for a better guideline than the one quoted above:
"Questions about biblical topics should include at least one specific Bible passage. Otherwise they are liable to be closed as off-topic."
