Text, Interpretation and Imagination (2023) course
This course is guaranteed to make you see the Bible form a new angle!
During the four-day course we will examine the role of stories and images from the Bible in the Western cultural imagination through the lenses of postcolonialism, disability, feminism, womanism, and Queer theology. We consider how cultural presuppositions affect how we read biblical texts and how the texts themselves challenge these presuppositions.
We will compare biblical texts with other types of text to ask questions such as ‘what makes a text sacred?’ and students will be encouraged to creatively and critically interpret the biblical texts themselves.
This is a great opportunity to delve into biblical hermeneutics from creative and critical perspectives.
Some of the ideas we’ll explore are:
Is the Disney film ‘The Prince of Egypt’ an example of good biblical interpretation?
Is the Bible dangerous?
What happens when we read the Bible and think about power?
Can we find sacred stories in popular culture?
How does Bob Marley use the Bible in his songs?
Contributors
Dr Eleanor McLaughlin See bio
Dr Jayme Reaves See bio
The Revd Dr Carlton J. Turner is a Contextual Tutor in Contextual Theology and Mission Studies at the Queen’s Foundation, Birmingham. He is a Caribbean Contextual and Practical Theology who has published on postcolonial theology, African Caribbean traditional religious heritages, Black Theology, Mission, and Caribbean Church History.
The Revd Lyndon Webb is the Associate Chaplain at Merton College, University of Oxford, and is studying for a PhD at Sarum College. He has a particular interest in the intersection between queer theology, ecology and the Song of Songs.
This is a postgraduate course open to ‘auditors’ e.g. those not enrolled for academic credit.
What does it mean to audit a course?
This course would made an excellent addition to a study break, retreat or sabbatical in the beautiful Salisbury Cathedral Close, where residential participants enjoy full board, access to the library and to the pattern of liturgy at Salisbury Cathedral.
Whether it’s cultural events, sightseeing (Stonehenge is nearby for example) or shopping — there’s plenty to do if you’d like to extend your stay the weekend before and after the course. For ideas, visit Salisbury Cathedral Close attraction websites to see what’s on Sarum’s doorstep. Visit the Wiltshire Creative website to view events at nearby Salisbury Playhouse and the Salisbury Arts Centre. The Experience Salisbury website has an excellent city-wide listing of forthcoming events around the city.
Need financial assistance? View our list of grantmaking trusts
Enrolled students also may attend teaching weeks for modules in addition to the modules which they are studying for credit, by permission of the Programme Leader. Student rates for hospitality costs during a teaching week currently are: £250 (en-suite), £200 (standard) and £60 (non-residential), along with an educational fee of £125 per booking. The audit fee and hospitality prices are reviewed annually with any changes effective from 1 July.
