How do you use the words historicism and historicity

Factual Questions
1

How do you use the words historicism and historicity? I’m not sure how I should understand the sentence: " He had no interest in the historicism of the Bible."
I would appreciate some good working examples to show how these words are most commonly used.
I look forward to your feedback
davidmich

2

It is hard to be certain without any context, but “He had no interest in the historicism of the Bible,” looks like a simple misuse of the word to me. “Historicity” would make more sense. Then it would mean that he had no interest in whether or not the events described in the Bible really happened.

“Historicism” is a type of interpretative strategy. You can take a historicist stance towards a text, but a text itself does not exhibit (or fail to exhibit) historicism (unless it itself is a work of interpretation, which The Bible really is not).

3

Thanks njtt. That clears that up.
davidmich

4

I don’t use either word. In that sentence I would say “historical accuracy” or “historical basis.”

5

Hey, I would not take my word on it as gospel. They are not exactly words I fling about freely in my everyday conversation. I do come across them occasionally, though, and I think I have enough grasp that I can generally get the sense of what is being said with them. That is my take, but I do not guarantee 100% accuracy.

One further data point is that I have the impression that “historicism” is often (though not always) used in a negative way, as a point of criticism.

6

I never use either of them.