There’s nothing quite like the Sheffield Institute for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies (SIIBS). There is an energy, courage and that slight whiff of danger about them – quite frankly, what’s there not to like? If anyone is going to be the first to touch the toppling ark it’s going to be one of them! The great news is that this year their annual Bible, Critical Theory and Reception seminars are coming to Birmingham on the 9th & 10th September.

I would strongly encourage you to take the opportunity to attend. It is totally free – although James Crossley or John Lyons would appreciate letting them know if you are hoping to come.

Part of its remit is to take biblical studies out of the institute and so, as in previous years, the 2015 BCTR seminar will be held at the Prince of Wales pub, Mosely – expertly selected by our own Tom Hunt.

Following his presentation on An Anarchist Reading of Romans 13 at our Dead Letters & Living Words conference earlier this summer, Lloyd Pietersen will be exploring this theme more deeply on Wednesday morning when he will be discussing Anarchism and Biblical Studies with Alexandre Christoyannopoulos. As if that isn’t enough of a draw, Tom Hunt (from Newman) is also going to be speaking on What has Marseille to do with Jerusalem? Modern and late antique cities.

I have to admit to be looking forward to Tiffany Webster’s Thursday session, “You have to say you’re Christian so people know you’re not Muslim”. Cultural Christianity, the Bible as Talisman, and Britishness: exploring the complex relationship between the Bible, Christianity, and national identity in twenty-first century Britain. Tiff’s work is always engaging, unfailingly asking provocative questions and coming up with some really intriguing answers.

Probably the best thing would be to let you have a look at the programme, so here it is (shamelessly plundered from James Crossley’s Harnessing Chaos blog:

DAY ONE (Wednesday, September 9)

11-11.45am arrive

11.45pm-12.45pm

Alexandre Christoyannopoulos and Lloyd Pietersen, Discussion: Anarchism and Biblical Studies

12.45pm-2pm lunch/dinner (for those south of Watford, lunch/dinner)

2pm-2.45pm Tom Hunt, What has Marseille to do with Jerusalem? Modern and late antique cities

2.45pm-3.30pm Tessa Crossley, Dinah and the Lady: The Reception of Deuteronomic Rape Laws in John Milton’s A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle (1634)

3.30pm-3.45pm break

3.45pm-4.30pm Jonathan Downing, Reception and the Palimpsest: Southcottians reading Genesis 49:10

4.30pm-5.15pm James Crossley, George Orwell and the English Radical Bible

DAY TWO (Thursday September 10)

11.15am-12noon David Tollerton, Elie Wiesel and the Biblical Archetypes of Contemporary Middle Eastern Politics

12noon-12.45pm Karen Wenell, TBC

12.45-2.00 dinner/lunch (see caveat above)

2pm-2.45pm Tiffany Webster, “You have to say you’re Christian so people know you’re not Muslim”. Cultural Christianity, the Bible as Talisman, and Britishness: exploring the complex relationship between the Bible, Christianity, and national identity in twenty-first century Britain

2.45pm-3.30pm Jonathan Cahana, The Desert of the Real itself? Language, Materiality, and Bodies in Gnosticism and Critical Theory

3.45pm-4pm break

4pm-4.45pm John Lyons, What has John Cleese ever done for us? Exemplifying the multiple methodological needs of reception history