Metacriticism of Biblical Scholarship

Call For Papers: The Metacriticism Section seeks proposals in four areas. (1) Metacriticism of New Testament Ethics. What presuppositions and agendas underlie scholarship on ethics in NT texts? How can descriptive and explanatory studies best be constructed? How is the concept of “ethics” and its study conducted in cognate fields such as classical studies, early rabbinics, and ANE and Mediterranean civilizations? (Open, plus 1-2 invited presentations.) (2) Imaginal Worlds and Biblical Studies. Science fiction and fantasy communities have generated multi-authored, cross-media canons that construct imaginal worlds and center interpretative communities. What might biblical studies learn from these contemporary social practices – about multiple authorship, anonymity or pseudonymity, world construction, canon creation, and interpretive activity? We prefer methodological proposals that go beyond motif and narrative comparison. (3) Disability Studies Metacriticism. Topics of interest include disability studies and contestations of textual authority, conflicts between historical-critical studies and theological approaches, comparisons of disability scholarship within and outside of biblical studies, and disability as distinctive meta-critical tool. Jointly sponsored with the Healthcare and Disability in the Ancient World. (4) When Is the Big Tent Too Big? Jointly with NAASR, we seek papers that critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of the “big tent” philosophy that governs professional organizations, publishing, and departments in religious studies and biblical studies. This “big tent” mixes etic and methodological naturalist perspectives with emic, confessional, and theological approaches to religion along with opportunities for interfaith dialogue. Contributors to this session identify the impact the Big Tent has on the secular study of religion and sacred texts and its status within the large world of secular disciplines of the humanities and social sciences.

Program Unit Chairs

Propose a Paper for this Program Unit

Questions About Membership?

• Call 866-727-9955 Toll Free in the US
• Call 404-727-9498 Outside the US
• Fax us at 404-727-2419
• Email us at sblservices@sbl-site.org