This year’s Edward Cadbury lectures at the University of Birmingham will take place in a few week’s time. Professor Amy-Jill Levine (Vanderbilt University Divinity School and College of Arts and Sciences) will be examining “Is the New Testament Anti-Jewish?“

The press release for this event reads:

Despite progress in both historical studies and interfaith relations, Jews and Christians continue to misunderstand each other, and to misunderstand the relationship of the New Testament to its Jewish context. By looking at major parts of the New Testament – the Christmas story, the sermon on the mount, the passion narrative, the letters of Paul, and the epistle to the Hebrews – we can see how and why the followers of Jesus of Nazareth dialogued with, debated, and sometimes defamed their fellow Jews. We also find, in doing the historical work, that Jews and Christians have much to celebrate both in terms of what they hold in common and in areas where they came to differ.

In this year’s series of Cadbury Lectures Professor Levine provides a historically informed and theologically sensitive reading of those New Testament passages that some claim to be anti-Jewish, rooted in a recognition that both Judaism and Christianity formed their identities in dialogue and debate with each other. The series explores and celebrates where Judaism and Christianity agree, as well as where they disagree.

Describing herself as a “Yankee Jewish feminist,” Professor Levine is a member of Congregation Sherith Israel, an Orthodox Synagogue in Nashville The Cadbury lectures have become a highlight in the academic calendar have provided some really interesting and engaging talks. This year’s topic will be

particularly relevant to a number of students here at Newman – particularly those in THU 503 (The Abrahamic Inheritance), where we looked at post-holocaust biblical studies and the Jules Isaac’s ‘Teachings of Contempt’.

The programme will be as follows:

• 25 November 2014: The Christmas story
• 26 November: The sermon on the mount
• 27 November: Jesus vs. the Pharisees
• 1st December: Who killed Jesus?
• 2nd December: Paul of Tarsus
• 3rd December: The epistle to the Hebrews

Time and location:

All events will take place from 5.30pm-7.00pm in Lecture Theatre 7, Arts Building (map reference R16), Main Edgbaston Campus.

How to book tickets

The events are free and open to all, but registration is desired.
To register for any event please email: cadburylectures@contacts.bham.ac.uk