Metacriticism of Biblical Scholarship

Call For Papers: The Metacriticism Unit seeks proposals on the following topics: (1) Doing Secular Study of the Bible: Principles, Techniques, and Considerations. Secular study of the Bible requires training. The theological infusion into the biblical studies academy often leaves scholars seeking to do biblical studies from a secular perspective in a quandary as to how a secular approach differs not just in what it doesn't do (assume the existence of God, for instance) but also in what it does do that is different. We seek papers from scholars who are actively engaged in secular biblical studies, detailing their approaches and techniques and talking about ways to treat both the text and secondary material from this perspective. (2) Hate speech and Biblical Studies. In what ways can the contemporary category of “hate speech” be put into dialogue with biblical studies method(s)? How can our teaching and scholarship about biblical and related ancient Mediterranean texts be, or avoid, hate speech? How is the category of hate speech in contemporary rhetoric about the Bible employed to advance or to undermine claims to authority? What are the connections or disconnections between hate speech about (groups of) people and that about texts? In what ways does contemporary neglect or magnification of potential hate speech in these texts relate to the construction or deconstruction of textual authority? (3) Open Session. We will consider all proposals that engage with the unit’s mission, and we particularly welcome proposals that engage recent disciplinary controversies and questions of institutional practice.

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