The third annual symposium of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence. Online: 24-28th May 2021
Booking links for individual sessions or for the whole event can be found on the main conference page.

Call for papers

Submission deadline: 1 March 2021 (31st December 2020 for the emerging scholars stream – see below)

The Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence is delighted to call for submissions to its third annual academic conference, following the success of its first two events, held in June 2019, and online between September and November 2020. Both of these have culminated in the publication of edited collections: ‘The Bible on Violence: A Thick Description’ (Sheffield Phoenix, 2020); and ‘In the Cross-Hairs: Biblical Violence in Focus’ (Sheffield Phoenix, 2021).

The third annual conference will take place between 24th and 28th May 2021, and will be held entirely online. There will be five themed sessions, each with a keynote address. Submissions are welcome for each session, as outlined below. Papers will be rigorously peer-reviewed. Scholars who are invited to present, and others who have submitted papers of sufficient merit, will be invited to write the paper up for consideration for the next edited collection, and/or the Journal for the Study of Bible and Violence.

The Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence aims to facilitate cutting-edge research into the interpretation of biblical violence, and the use of the Bible in a violent world. We are a confessional Christian institution, and one of our core convictions is that scholarship should be academically robust, irenic, dialogical, collaborative, non-competitive and generous. To this end we welcome dialogue and collaboration with scholars of all faiths and none, willing to learn from anyone while honouring our mutual prerogative to disagree with courtesy.

Since the Centre’s inception, one of our goals has been to mentor, encourage and provide opportunities for emerging scholars. Therefore we will once again be offering a modest prize for the best paper presented at the ‘emerging scholars’ session, which is open to undergraduates, and postgraduate students who have not yet exceeded eighteen months (full-time, or the part-time equivalent) of doctoral study. This session has a different submission procedure from the other four: please see below. The possibility of publication in the edited volume is open to students as well as to established academics, subject to appropriate peer review, and students may be offered some mentoring from more experienced scholars.

New this year, we have a stream dedicated entirely to hearing voices of scholars from the majority world, in keeping with a newly-expressed goal of facilitating genuinely global conversations and collaboration. This session has been scheduled earlier in the day (UK time), to try to facilitate participation and attendance from scholars to the East and South of the UK, as well as from the Americas.

Please note that emerging and global scholars are warmly welcome to submit to the other sessions if they prefer.

For general questions, please contact the CSBV director Helen Paynter on paynterh@bristol-baptist.ac.uk , or the individual session convener.

7pm BST, Monday 24th May: Bible and Contemporary Violence
Convenor: Dr Michael Spalione
Keynote speaker: Dr Matthew Feldman Director, Centre for the Analysis of the Radical Right.

We are inviting papers which explore the use and abuse of the Bible in a violent world. In keeping with this year’s theme of ‘Global Perspectives’, we welcome proposals from all social, political, and geographical intersections and localities.

For example, papers might interact with James Cone’s Christological critique of white supremacy; moving beyond the selective use of Romans 13 in Christian political witness; or the influence of the prosperity gospel upon militia groups.

Please send an abstract of 500 words indicating the range and scope of your proposed paper, its methodology, and your chief interlocutors.

Submissions should be made by 1st March to the convener, Dr Michael Spalione, at mspalione084@gmail.com, and copied to the Centre Director, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, at paynterh@bristol-baptist.ac.uk.

12 noon BST, Tuesday 25th May: Majority World Scholars
Convenor: Dr Ashley Hibbard
Keynote speaker: Dr Paul Chimhungwe, Lecturer & Acting Academic Dean, African Christian College, Eswatini.

We are inviting papers which explore either the interpretation of biblical violence, or the use of the Bible in a violent world. Submissions should be from scholars working in the majority world.

Please send an abstract of 500 words indicating the range and scope of your proposed paper, its methodology, and your chief interlocutors.

Submissions should be made by 1st March to the convener, Dr Ashley Hibbard, at mashleyhibbard@gmail.com, and copied to the Centre Director, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, at paynterh@bristol-baptist.ac.uk.

7pm BST, Wednesday 26th May: Creative Readings of Biblical Texts
Convenor: Brandon Hurlbert
Keynote speaker: Dr Johanna Stiebert, Professor of Hebrew Bible, University of Leeds

We are inviting papers which explore reader-centred readings of biblical texts of violence. For example, papers may utilise methodologies such as ideological criticism, deconstructive readings, or queer theory.

Please send an abstract of 500 words indicating the range and scope of your proposed paper, its methodology, and your chief interlocutors.

Submissions should be made by 1st March to the convener, Brandon Hurlbert, at brandon.m.hurlbert@gmail.com, and copied to the Centre Director, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, at paynterh@bristol-baptist.ac.uk.

7pm BST, Thursday 27th May: Emerging Scholars
Convenor: Dr Maria Power
Keynote speaker: Dr Helen Paynter, Director, Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence

We are inviting papers on any subject relating to the interpretation of biblical violence, or the use of the Bible in a violent world. Submissions should be from junior scholars (undergraduate or postgraduate) who have not yet exceeded eighteen months (full-time, or the part-time equivalent) of doctoral study.

Please send an abstract of 500 words indicating the range and scope of your proposed paper, its methodology, and your chief interlocutors.

Submissions should be made by 31st December to the convener, Dr Maria Power, at maria.power@bfriars.ox.ac.uk, and copied to the Centre Director, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, at paynterh@bristol-baptist.ac.uk.

Successful applications will be invited to submit a full paper (4000 words) for consideration by the reviewers. This will be due by 1st March.

One paper presented on the day will be awarded the student prize, and a £50 book token.

7pm BST, Friday 28th May: Traditional Biblical Hermeneutical Approaches
Convenor: Dr Trevor Laurence
Keynote speaker: Dr Lissa Wray Beal, Professor of Old Testament, Providence Seminary

We are inviting papers which explore the interpretation of biblical violence, using traditional, that is ‘behind the text’ or ‘in-text’ hermeneutical approaches. For example, papers may use such methodologies as comparative criticism, intertextual approaches or narrative criticism.

Please send an abstract of 500 words indicating the range and scope of your proposed paper, its methodology, and your chief interlocutors.

Submissions should be made by 1st March to the convener, Dr Trevor Laurence, at trevorilaurence@gmail.com, and copied to the Centre Director, Revd Dr Helen Paynter, at paynterh@bristol-baptist.ac.uk.