Events at Newman

Lloyd Pietersen on ‘Does the Matthean Jesus really loves his enemies?’

~ Richard Goode ~ 1 Comment

It was a real joy to have Lloyd Pietersen with us recently to present a paper on ‘Does the Matthean Jesus really love his enemies?’ He was participating as part of the Humanities Research Group Seminar Series for the Newman Humanities Research Centre. 

Matt 5

(full text of paper available to download below)

Lloyd began by conceding that this was his first time presenting an academic paper on the Synoptics (or Matthew in particular) and that this was very much a work in progress. The focus was Jesus’ instruction in Matt 5:44 to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”, from the Sermon on the Mount, and argued that this idea broadly conflicted with the canonical and non-canonical Jewish understanding of ‘enemy hatred’. Continue reading →

Does the Matthean Jesus really love his enemies – talk by Lloyd Pietersen

~ Richard Goode ~ 4 Comments

It is a real joy to have Lloyd Pietersen with us once again. This time he will be speaking at the Humanities Research Group Seminar Series for the Newman Humanities Research Centre. Those of you who have heard Lloyd speak will know that this will be a stimulating, engaging and thought-provoking paper.

Does the Matthean Jesus Really Love His Enemies?

love-your-enemies

Dr Lloyd Pietersen

Thursday 30 March 2017

Newman University

Room DW112
17.00 – 18.00 Continue reading →

The Intersection of the Academy and the Pew – a public talk by Dr Jim West at Newman University

~ Richard Goode ~ 2 Comments

Unfortunately this event has been cancelled due to ill health. We hope to reschedule this talk at a later date.

We apologise for any inconvenience

The early Church father, Tertullian, once wrote: “[w]hat indeed has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What concord is there between the Academy and the Church?” (De praescriptione, vii). Sometimes, some of my students take great pleasure in reminding me of this!

It is therefore a great pleasure to welcome to our shores someone who is amply qualified to guide us through this (often tempestuous) relationship and offer to you all…

…a very warm, post-Christmas, invitation to a public talk

The Intersection of Academy and the Pew

5th January 2017

jim-west-sbl

Dr Jim West (Ming Hua Theological College)

Newman University

14.00 – 15.00

CH116

Continue reading →

Short notice announcement – Saara-Maria Jurva on Hebrews

~ Richard Goode ~ 1 Comment

Saara-Maria JurvaWe have the pleasure of having Saara-Maria Jurva (University of Eastern Finland) studying with us at Newman for a couple of months while she completes her doctoral research into “The Cognitive-Emotive Function of Renarrated Biblical Stories in the Letter to the Hebrews.”

Saara-Maria is an ordained priest with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and completed her MTh at the University of Helsinki in 2009.

We are really pleased to announce that she will be leading a seminar on her work at Newman University on Monday 24th October at 15.00 – 16.30. If you would like to attend and for more information, please contact r.goode@staff.newman.ac.uk.

 

End of semester news round-up

~ Richard Goode ~ 3 Comments

The sun is at last shining. Most of the undergraduates have dispersed leaving the library and atrium feeling strangely empty and rather lonely. However, the campus is far from quiet. Major building work is underway; buildings are cordoned off, the chapel stands gutted and open to the elements, and the sound of heavy plant machinery fills the hot summer air. All this tells us that the spring/summer semester has now drawn to a close and this affords me a brief respite in time to give you a round up of news about the centre for the year so far – and a very busy year it has been!

Atrium Starbucks
Newman Atrium Starbucks

In case you missed anything, here is the centre’s news of 2016 (to date)… Continue reading →

Lloyd Pietersen on the lessons from Münster (1534)

~ Richard Goode ~ 1 Comment

It was wonderful to have Lloyd Pietersen with us for a couple of days last week. Lloyd thumbnailWhile he was here, he took a couple of sessions with our undergraduates discussing Anabaptist hermeneutics and the Schleitheim Confession (1527). On Monday evening he presented an illustrated paper on the lessons that can be learnt from Münster 1534-1535.  In it, he explored how a marginal group, who espoused pacifism, could give rise to an event that ended in so much bloodshed and violence… and what might its lessons be for us today?

Anabaptist Apocalypticism, Sex and Violence:          Lessons from Münster

Dr. Lloyd Pietersen

Newman Research Centre for the Bible and its Reception
25th April 2016

(Full text of paper available to download below)
Deutschlands letztere drei Jahrhunderte, oder: des deutschen Volkes Gedenk-Buch an seiner Väter Schicksale und Leiden seit drei Jahrhunderten, etc, by LUBOJATZKY, Franz. Original held and digitised by the British Library
By Franz Lubojatzky. Original held and digitised by the British Library

In this lecture I shall briefly rehearse the origins of sixteenth century Anabaptism before turning to a summary of the events leading up to Münster. After describing the events at Münster between 1534-1535 I shall examine the role of apocalypticism on the movement and finally reflect on some more contemporary examples of apocalypticism, sex and violence and ending with some cautionary comments on Donald Trump.

Continue reading →

‘Rewriting the Exodus’ An Inaugural Lecture by Professor Susan Docherty

~ Richard Goode ~ 1 Comment

A warm invitation is extended to all to come and join with us to celebrate SUSAN DOCHERTY’S installation to Professor of New Testament and Early Judaism at Newman University, Birmingham

An Invitation to

The Inaugural Professorial Lecture

Presented by Professor Susan Docherty

‘Rewriting the Exodus’

Monday 23rd May 2016 – 5.30pm

Exodus Mizrahi image
‘Exodus’ – image courtesy of Judith Hassan Mizrahi

The biblical account of the Exodus has always been significant for Jews in constructing their history, identity and theology. The story of how God acted through Moses to free the Israelite slaves from their suffering in Egypt is, not surprisingly, retold in numerous Jewish writings throughout the centuries. Continue reading →

Invitation to the St John’s Bible Presentation – 17th May 2016

~ Richard Goode ~ 1 Comment

YOU ARE WARMLY INVITED TO ATTEND A PRESENTATION

On the

St John’s Bible, Heritage Edition

with Jim Triggs (St John’s University, Minnesota)

 Tuesday 17th May 2016

17:00 – 18:00

NEWMAN UNIVERSITY

Room: DW101

Elijah print
2 Kings 2:9 – 2:25: Artists: Donald Jackson, in collaboration with Aidan Hart

The Saint John’s Bible, the first handwritten illuminated Bible of its scale in over 500 years, is a Bible for the 21st century. Strands of DNA and magnified images of viruses under the microscope are woven into illuminations. Satellite photos of the Ganges Delta and photos from the Hubble telescope are used to depict creation. Images of contemporary ecological destruction find their place alongside period images from celestial charts and sculpted creatures that stood at the doors of ancient buildings in Babylon. The imagery, like the text, is alive and constantly rewards the modern day seeker. Continue reading →

New date – Lloyd Pietersen: Anabaptist Apocalypticism, Sex and Violence: Lessons from Münster

~ Richard Goode ~ 1 Comment

We are really pleased to announce that we have a new date for Lloyd’s public lecture that, unfortunately, had to be cancelled in March.

 

One of the most demanding and perplexing questions that we face today is why a group or community can begin to adopt certain actions and behaviours that appear to diametrically oppose their core values? How can some religious groups commit acts of atrocities whilst apparently advocating a theology based upon love and peace?

This is not a new phenomenon and important lessons that could guide us to possible answers can be found in studying examples from history.

PUBLIC LECTURE

Anabaptist Apocalypticism, Sex and Violence: Lessons from Münster

Dr Lloyd Pietersen

Monday 25th April

17.00 – 18.00

Room – CH116

We are delighted to have with us at Newman Dr Lloyd Pietersen (Visiting Research Fellow and specialist in Anabaptist Studies) who will be giving an open lecture on the time of the ‘New Jerusalem’ established in Münster, 1534, and discussing the lessons that can be learned from this dark period.

Deutschlands letztere drei Jahrhunderte, oder: des deutschen Volkes Gedenk-Buch an seiner Väter Schicksale und Leiden seit drei Jahrhunderten, etc, by LUBOJATZKY, Franz. Original held and digitised by the British Library
Original held and digitised by the British Library

“In the election for city councillors in February 1534, Anabaptists gained control of the city of Münster. Shortly afterwards the city was declared ‘the New Jerusalem’ and Christ’s second coming was expected by Easter 1534. The city was besieged by the local prince-bishop for 16 months and eventually fell in June 1535. During this 16 month period Münster was ruled by a new ‘King David’ and polygamy was instituted. Resistance to his rule was violently crushed. This lecture examines the role of apocalypticism in transforming peaceful Anabaptism into the violence of Münster and reflects briefly on apocalypticism and violence today.”

Everyone is welcome to attend.

For more details please contact: r.goode@staff.newman.ac.uk
or Lee Lawrence: L.Lawrence@staff.newman.ac.uk

Continue reading →

Public talk by Symon Hill on ‘The Up-Side Down Bible’

~ Richard Goode ~ 1 Comment

How is the Bible understood by someone reading it for the first time? What do people outside the church make of Jesus’ teaching? Do they hear a different message to the ones preached within the church? Can their understanding offer insights that we, who are more familiar with the texts and the underpinning layers of theological teaching, might miss?

We are delighted to have Symon Hill visit us on Thursday 7th April to talk about his latest book, The Up-Side Down Bible.  This book is the fruit of Symon’s work with using the Bible amongst groups of people who have no church background or awareness of traditional church interpretation.

Symon Hill

The Up-Side Down Bible

Thursday 7th April

5.00 – 6.00

DA125

Upside down bible slanted

When Symon Hill started writing a book about the parables of Jesus, he didn’t turn to commentaries and sermons, but to people who had never heard the words of Jesus before, including atheists, trade unionists and sex workers. The result is a revelation.

Ship of Fools feature

Continue reading →