Home Short Courses Theology, Imagination & Culture Text, Interpretation and Imagination (2023)

About the Text, Interpretation and Imagination (2023) course

Name: Text, Interpretation and Imagination (2023)
Start: 2023-02-20
End: 2023-02-23
Location: Sarum College

This course examines the role of stories and images from the Bible in the Western cultural imagination. 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.

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.

Book Event

Non-residential auditor course #2715 £410

Includes lunch and refreshments but not B&B nor the evening meal

Available Tickets: 2

The Non-residential auditor course #2715 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

Residential auditor with B&B on course #2715 dates £610

Residential with B&B (ensuite). Check-in 20 Feb; check out on 23 Feb. Includes evening meals on course days.

Available Tickets: 8

The Residential auditor with B&B on course #2715 dates ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

Residential auditor plus B&B night before course #2715 £665

Ensuite bedroom with 1 night extra B&B before course (check-in 19 Feb; check out on 23 Feb). Includes evening meals on course days.

Available Tickets: 2

The Residential auditor plus B&B night before course #2715 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

Residential auditor plus B&B night after course #27155 £665

Ensuite room with 1 night extra B&B after course (check-in 20 Feb; check out on 24 Feb). Includes evening meals on course days.

Available Tickets: 2

The Residential auditor plus B&B night after course #27155 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

Residential auditor plus 2 nights extra B&B course #2715 £720

Ensuite room with 2 nights extra B&B, one night before and one night after course. Check-in 19 Feb; check out on 24 Feb. Includes evening meals on course days.

Available Tickets: 1

The Residential auditor plus 2 nights extra B&B course #2715 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

Details

Dates & Times

20 - 23 Feb 2023

Day 1 - Starts at 2pm, Day 2 & 3 - Full days, Day 4 - finishes by 2:30pm

Location

Sarum College

Tutor(s)

Dr Eleanor McLaughlin

Guest Tutors

Course code

2715

Other Notes

This is a postgraduate course open to those not enrolled for academic credit. It will be held onsite at Sarum College.

All ticket options include lunch and refreshments on each day of the course.

Residential tickets include an evening meal along with B&B.

Book this course

What our students say

Rewarding Sabbatical Stay

The Revd Greg Syler, is Rector of Ascension & St. George’s, Resurrection Parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, DC USA, spent part of his ministry sabbatical at Sarum College in spring 2022.

His account of the experience begins: ‘I loved spending nearly three weeks of my ministry sabbatical at Sarum College earlier this year.

Not only did I rest, and rest well in the comfortable care of the Sarum College staff, I experienced very significant renewal and fresh insights.’

The Road Not Taken

Sarum Graduate Mike Truman

January 2022

Five years ago, I told my Warden of Readers that I would not be renewing my licence when it expired in 2019, as I thought my faith was becoming too unorthodox for a Church of England licensed lay minister. As someone who knew me well, she challenged me to actively explore what I did still believe. Thus started the journey that ended last August with the dissertation completing my MA in Theology Imagination and Culture (MATIC) at Sarum College.

Clergy Study Breaks

The opportunity for clergy to get away occasionally from their own context, to have an overnight stay in the beautiful setting of Sarum College and all that the Salisbury Cathedral Close offers is hugely valuable. All the clergy I have suggested who have spent 24hrs at Sarum College have benefit greatly from the experienced mentoring where they can talk, reflect, think, plan and pray.

The support and encouragement they receive is excellent and has a positive on their on going ministry. This is something the Diocese of Rochester encourages and supports financially in preparation for their clergy preparing for Extended Ministerial Development Leave (Sabbatical).

— Canon Christopher Dench, Diocese of Rochester Director of Formation and Ministry

Retreats and Private Stays

When I arrived, exhausted and sensitive, I was grateful not to be asked by Reception were I came from, whether I had had a good journey etc. That was the kind of hospitality I needed: a non-intrusive welcome that was found in ancient cultures and still survives in some societies today, where the host asks questions about a stranger and his journey only when the visitor has rested and been given food and drink.

— guest on a private stay

Biblical Study Breaks

I just found it very refreshing – as a leader of a church I don’t get as many opportunities to step out and do courses (my fault, not the church!) and so I loved it. I think it was run really well online – which is a difficult medium to work with.

Pádraig Ó Tuama (pictured) was outstanding in his balance of getting us to engage and sharing his learning. Also the quick availability of resources provided by Sarum College Librarian Jayne Downey was excellent.

— course participant, Story Theology: Narrative Approaches to Scripture

Text, Interpretation and Imagination (2023)