Bible, Myth, and Myth Theory

Call For Papers: Myth as a category is sometimes opposed to history (a narrative purporting to relate past events). Yet myth can be written in a variety of genres, including historiography. Our first session invites papers that reflect upon myths written in historiographical form, or myths purporting to relate events that “really happened” in the past. We are especially interested in the rhetorical and ideological import of these “historiographical myths” and encourage deep theoretical reflection on how myths sometimes function as history and how history can at times function as myth. We encourage participants from diverse specializations—including ANE literature and Greco-Roman religions—who employ a range of methodologies. Our second session, co-sponsored by the Nag Hamaddi and Gnosticism section, solicits papers that study extant Gnostic literature (including but not limited to works attributed to Classic or Sethian Gnostics, Valentinians, and related alternative Christian movements) using methodologies conventionally employed in the study of ancient myth. Paper proposals might be comparative in scope, bringing specific aspects of Gnostic myth into dialogue with other classical or ancient near eastern myths. Alternatively, they might engage in deep theoretical reflection on Gnostic myth as myth. Complementary and divergent approaches are possible as well, of course, provided they focus on myth as a key feature of Gnostic religion and literature.

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