Conference Announcement and Call for Papers: The Use of the Bible in Contemporary Culture

The Use of the Bible in Contemporary Culture
25th–27th June—University of Chichester

Contemporary western culture contains many references and allusions to the Bible, especially in art, the media, and politics. Such allusions to the words, narratives or motifs of the Bible are often used to inform or reflect public opinion and thereby contribute to current public debate. This conference at the University of Chichester will examine particular examples of these biblical allusions, and the interpretive processes that are involved in their re-appropriation of the Bible.

The conference will focus on three specific areas of interest:

1. The Bible in politics—the contemporary and historical role of the Bible in politics and political debate. 
2. The Bible in the media and the arts—how the media and arts have used the Bible, especially to reflect or shape public opinion. 
3. Hermeneutics —examining both the interpretive strategies involved in cultural echoes of the Bible, and examining what importance (or even authority) the Bible is seen to have in these situations. 

Speakers Include

• Professor James Dunn, Durham University
• Professor James Crossley, University of Sheffield
• Professor Yvonne Sherwood, University of Kent
• Dr Aaron Rosen, King’s College, London
• Nick Spencer, Theos

Call for Papers

Papers are welcome from PhD students and established scholars. Presenters will have a 30-minute period for the presentation of their paper and time for questions and comments. If you wish to propose a paper, please send a title and 300-word abstract to Steve Smith (s.c.smith@chi.ac.uk) by Friday 1st May 2015.

Registration

For registration and further information please see the conference webpage (www.chi.ac.uk/bible). Places are limited: the residential conference fee is £190 (£210 en-suite), with day delegate rates available.

The conference is organised by the University of Chichester in partnership with Bible Society.