Saint Augustine and the Psalms

While reading Augustine's "On Christian Teaching" I found one quote particularly applicable to our class discussion on Friday.

"Any unfamiliar [metaphorical signs] which puzzle the reader must be investigated partly through a knowledge of languages, and partly through a knowledge of things." (Augustine, pg 43)

As always, we were discussing interpretations of the psalms, and the issue of involving theology in our interpretation came up. The argument has been made that we should separate theology from religious studies so that we can get a true "outsider's" view of the writings. I would argue that in order to get an accurate interpretation of a religious work, theology must be considered to some extent because otherwise the words used, or as Augustine puts it, the signs used, cannot be truly understood.

Yes, historical and cultural factors are important in interpreting religious works. But it seems to me that understanding the faith of those writing the psalms, as well as that of those who would be reading them, is essential if we intend to figure out how people reacted to them, interpreted them, and so on. In a sense, understanding their faith and core beliefs would help us to get into their heads and better grasp where they are coming from when reading the psalms. Without "investigating" (as Augustine says we must) the faith of early Christians, we are missing pieces to the puzzle, and expecting to come up with an accurate interpretation without all factors being considered is ridiculous.