Social Scientific Criticism of the New Testament

Call For Papers: The SSCNT unit is pleased to offer four sessions this year. 1. "What Is Social Scientific Criticism in 2023? What Is Its Future." Participants will be invited. 2. "Jewish and Christian Utopian Communities of the Hellenistic-Roman Era." This joint session between the SSCNT unit and the Utopian Studies Consultation will focus on the theme “Jewish and Christian Utopian Communities of the Hellenistic-Roman Era.” We invite papers in this session to explore ways in which analysis of 19th and 20th century intentional communities through the lens of Utopian Studies can illuminate our understanding of intentional communities in the Hellenistic-Roman Era, such as the Essenes, Therapeutae, Jesus movement, etc. Submissions for this session should attend to theoretical work from within the field of Utopian Studies. Please submit proposals for this session directly to the Utopian Studies consultation. 3. "Religion and Economy in the Ancient Mediterranean." Joint session with the Early Christianity and the Ancient Economy unit. Like the term “religion,” “economy” is both an unstable signifier, in that it can be defined in multiple ways, and a heuristic device, in the sense that it may help to delimit a particular aspect of the broader social order that is of interest to the researcher. We solicit proposals exploring the intersection of religion and economy: What is gained or lost by bringing the categories together (e.g., “sacred economy,” “spiritual economies,” “theo-economics”)? In what ways might the conjunction of the two terms facilitate a redefinition or potentially a rejection of one or both categories? Conversely, how might bringing the categories together enrich discourses concerning “religion” and/or “economy”? Please submit proposals for this session directly to the ECAE unit. 4. Open Session. We enthusiastically seek papers on any aspect of the social-scientific study of the New Testament and/or early Christianity.

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