The Centre of Theology and Philosophy (Nottingham) and St Stephen’s House (Oxford) are organising a conference for 5–7 January 2009 entitled ‘Returning to the Church: Catholicity, Ecclesiology and the Mission of the Church of England’.
Speakers include: John Milbank, Alison Milbank, Graham Ward, Alister McGrath, Michael Northcott, Jeremy Morris and Simon Oliver.
For more information contact Andrew Davison or visit www.ssho.ox.ac.uk/ecclesiology
or click here to download a conference poster.
The School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh are hosting a day conference in memory of TF Torrance on Wednesday 29 October 2008. The programme includes:
More information here.
An academic conference on U2 – U2: The Hype and the Feedback – is being planned for May 13-15, 2009.
Speakers include Anthony DeCurtis, Steve Turner, Jim Henke, Cathleen Falsani and Matt McGee.
There’s also a Call for Papers for any who are interested and can get to Times Square, New York City.
More details here.
The 2008 Annual Conference for the Evangelical Philosophical Society is now taking registrations. Conference details here.
In conjunction with an art exhibition at Glasgow University Chapel celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Glasgow Jewish artist Hannah Frank, the Graduate School of Arts and Humanities and the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Glasgow are planning a two-day symposium on Art, Religion and Identity for 23-24 September 2008
Keynote speakers are Professor Melissa Raphael-Levine (University of Gloucestershire), Professor Shulamit Reinharz (Brandeis University) and Dr. Laura Levitt (Temple University).
Organisers have issued a call for papers on any topic relating to the conference theme, with a focus on the 19th and 20th centuries, although they are open to proposals dealing with other periods. They welcome papers from any discipline, including but not limited to theology, art history, museum and archive studies, cultural studies, history, psychology, sociology, anthropology and literature. Abstracts of 150-300 words, for papers not exceeding 20 minutes in length, or proposals for posters (A1 size) should be addressed to Julie Clague and Alana Vincent no later than 20 July.
Topics may include, but are not limited to:
Further information is available here.
The 2008 Karl Barth blog conference has kicked off with an appropriate and juicy post by Jon Mackenzie entitled Introduction: The Impossible Possibility? Philosophy and Theology in the Work of Eberhard Jüngel.
For those who are unaware of this conference (where have you been?), its concern will be the conversation between Barth and his most distinguished student, Eberhard Jüngel. Huge thanks to Travis for coordinating, encouraging and hosting this ongoing conversation on theirs.
Here’s a few tasters from Jon‘s contribution:
‘Faith is not a type of knowledge but instead the very reconstitution of one’s being. Undoubtedly, the holistic nature of this reconstitution of being must include the faculties of reason, but to simply juxtapose faith against reason is to reduce faith down to mere epistemology’.
‘Jüngel is keen to highlight the event-character of faith because it reduces the risk of conceptualising faith as a metaphysical state or attribute. Were this the case, then the identification of God in Jesus would be conceptualised simply as the highest instantiation of a more general metaphysical principle and, thus, God would merely become a part of this world’.
‘It is precisely the fact that faith gives itself to be thought that faith needs theology … The existential nature of faith makes it impossible for faith to be self-reflective. If it could be so, then faith would cease to be what it is: a correspondence to the word of Jesus Christ’.
‘There is in Jüngel … a carefully developed notion of the relationship between philosophy and theology; a dissimilarity in similarity. Whilst both philosophy and theology are formally acts of thought, they still differ materially in that theology remains parasitic upon the event of the word of God appearing in history whereas philosophy is self-justifying. In this sense, it becomes obvious how the relationship between philosophy and theology can only be conceptualised with recourse to the person of Jesus Christ in history. “Theological critique is materially the orientation of theology to the ‘word of the cross’ as the ‘word’ (logos) which is constitutive for all talk about God, and this orientation must be constantly renewed.”’
Check out the full post here.
[NB. The scary picture is from Jon’s Myspace page, where you can also listen to some of his funky music. What a talented guy … though he does actually look older and less handsome in real life]
The Society for the Study of Christian Ethics is planning a conference at Westcott House, Cambridge on 5-7 September. The conference is open to both students and faculty members in the disciplines of ethics, theology, religion, philosophy, politics, and sociology, and the conference poster can be downloaded here.
This year’s conference is entitled ‘The Sermon on the Mount and Christian Ethics’, and speakers include the John Battle, Richard Bauckham, Carolyn Muessig, Oliver O’Donovan, Susan Parsons, and Glen Stassen.
There is a Call for Papers which can address either the conference theme or more general work-in-progress. But you’ll need to get cracking because the application deadline for giving a paper is 20th June 2008. Proposals and enquiries should be emailed to Jeffrey Bailey.
The University of Oxford have announced the Second Annual Postgraduate Conference in Continental Philosophy of Religion. The conference, entitled ‘Religion, Atheism and the Community of Reason in Modernity’, will take place at Regents Park College, Oxford University, on the 22nd September 2008. The confirmed keynote speakers are Prof. Raimond Gaita (KCL) and Dr Mark Wynn (Exeter). Areas of discussion include the relation of reason to religion; the role of religious beliefs, practices and forms of argumentation in philosophical discourse; and the very possibility of religious philosophy. The hope is that these topics with be discussed in respect to both contemporary philosophical debate and the history of philosophy.
They have issued a call for papers of 20-30 minutes from postgraduates and those who have recently obtained their doctorate. ‘We encourage both historical and contemporary engagements and, although we wish to provide a forum for continental philosophy (which we understand in its broadest sense as European philosophy from Descartes to Meillassoux), we welcome papers from other traditions, especially analytic philosophy. Possible topics may include:
Contemporary Issues:
Historical topics:
Please send abstracts of between 300 and 500 words to godphil@googlemail.com by the deadline of 20th July 2008. For more details, see http://www.theology.ox.ac.uk/news_and_events/RACRIM.pdf
As I’ve noted before, 2009 will be the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth. To mark this occasion the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership and the Theology and Religious Studies Department of the University of Otago are organizing a two-day conference focusing on Calvin’s legacy on church and society. The conference will be held on 24-25 August 2009, and will feature two international keynote speakers – Professor Randall Zachman (from the University of Notre Dame) and Professor Elsie McKee (from Princeton Theological Seminary) – as well as local contributors. The venue will be Knox College, which is most appropriate given the fact that 2009 will also be Knox’s centennial year.
The Centre of Theology and Philosophy and the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Nottingham are holding a workshop on ‘The Pope and Jesus of Nazareth’ on 19th and 20th June 2008 in Nottingham.
The publication of the book Jesus of Nazareth on 16 April 2007 was an unprecedented event: never before had a reigning Pope published personal reflections on Jesus. The book engages not just with New Testament scholarship but also with fundamental methodological questions related to historical criticism. Moreover, it resonates with wider questions of scriptural reading, Christology, ecclesiology and relations with Judaism and Islam. This workshop will be the first extended theological discussion in the UK on Joseph Ratzinger’s book.
Among the speakers, there will be Professor John Milbank, Professor Markus Bockmuehl, Professor emeritus Geza Vermes FBA, Archbishop Martínez, Fergus Kerr OP, Professor Walter Moberly, Olivier-Thomas Venard OP and Professor Mona Siddiqui.
For a booking form please visit Department of Theology and Religious Studies or e-mail Angus Paddison.
The event is being supported by the British Academy.
Professor David Fergusson (Professor of Divinity, The University of Edinburgh) will deliver the 2008 Gifford Lectures on the topic ‘Religion and Its Recent Critics’. The program for the 2008 Gifford Lectures is available here, and it looks impressive.
Tuesday 8 April
The new atheism: historical roots and contemporary context.
Thursday 10 April
The implausibility of religious belief: claims and counter-claims.
Tuesday 15 April
The genesis of religion: can Darwinism explain it away?
Wednesday 16 April
Religion, morality and art: invention or discovery?
Tuesday 22 April
Is religion bad for our health? Saints, martyrs and terrorists.
Thursday 24 April
Sacred texts: how should we treat them?
Sounds like something in there for everyone. The lectures will be held at the Sir Charles Wilson Lecture Theatre, University Avenue/Gibson Street, Glasgow @ 18.00. They are free and open to the public. Registration to Clare Laidlaw (0141 330 4978)
The Society for Continental Philosophy and Theology has published what looks to be an interesting programme for their 2008 Conference (April 11-12) entitled ‘Postmodernism, Truth, and Religious Pluralism’. The conference will be held at Gordon College and the programme can be downloaded here.
Also Ben has posted some information on an exciting-looking conference on ‘Saint Paul’s Journeys into Philosophy’ (4-6 June 2008). More information available from the conference website.
David has reminded us that the first annual Balthasar Blog Conference is coming up March 16-25. The topic will be von Balthasar’s theological exegesis, and ten plenary posts have already been listed:
Looks like a good lineup. Unfortunately, only four responses have thus far been planned:
David is seeking a further six respondents. If you would like to be one of them then send him an email (via his profile) or leave a comment on this post, where there is also more information.
2009 will mark the quincentenary of Calvin’s birth. To commemorate this, two conferences have already been announced to take place in Geneva.
Conference speakers at these two events include:
Joel Beeke, PhD
Henri Blocher, PhD
Bryan Chapell, PhD
Iain D. Campbell, PhD
R. Scott Clark, DPhil
Ligon Duncan, PhD
Edward Donnelly, PhD
William Edgar, PhD
Olivier Fatio, PhD
Sinclair Ferguson, PhD
Richard Gamble, PhD
W. Robert Godfrey, PhD
Darryl Hart, PhD
Michael Haykin, PhD
Martin Holdt, PhD
Hywel R. Jones, PhD
Douglas Kelly, PhD
Robert Kingdon, PhD
Anthony N. S. Lane, PhD
Steven Lawson, DMin
Peter Lillback, PhD
Bruce McCormack, PhD
Andrew McGowan, PhD
Phillip Ryken, DPhil
Derek Thomas, PhD
Geoffrey Thomas
Carl Trueman, PhD
John Witte, Jr. , PhD
David Wright, PhD
James McGoldrick, PhD
More information here. I have no doubt that more conferences will be announced as 2009 gets closer.
The Annual National Conference for Christian Postgraduates and Postdoctoral Researchers will take place 20–22 June 2008 at Dovedale House, Derbyshire.
There will be two main speakers – Stefan Lindholm and Andrew Fellows – both from L’Abri Fellowship
Stefan will speak on ‘The importance of intellectual virtues’, and Andrew will speak on ‘Cultivating a Christian mind’ and ‘Integrating the mind and the imagination’.
More information here.
On May 28-30, Tyndale University College will be hosting a conference on ‘The Holy Trinity in Holy Scripture: Interpreting the Bible for the Church’. They have announced a call for papers here.
The conference will be of ‘interest to scholars, preachers, students and all those who may be concerned with how an ancient set of Scriptures can speak authoritatively and powerfully today. The conference will address questions such as:
Speakers thus far include:
Dr. John Webster, Professor of Systematic Theology, King’s College, University of Aberdeen
Dr. Lewis Ayres, Associate Professor of Historical Theology, Candler School of Theology, Emory University
Dr. Kathryn Greene-McCreight, Assistant Rector, St. John’s Episcopal Church, New Haven, Connecticut
Dr. Nathan MacDonald, Lecturer in Old Testament, St. Andrews University
Dr. Ephraim Radner, Professor of Historical Theology, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto
Dr. Christopher Seitz, Professor of Biblical Interpretation, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto
Dr. Peter Widdicombe, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, McMaster University
More details here.
The University of Sheffield is organizing a Conference on Bible and Justice for 29 May – 1 June, 2008. The Conference promises to bring together scholars from around the world to explore how the ancient texts of the Bible can play an active role in addressing twenty-first century social concerns. The purpose of the conference is to foster discussion about the relevance of the Bible to modern social issues, and promote bridges between the academic field of biblical studies and the various endeavours for a just world.
Areas of focus include Human Rights, Economic Justice and Environmental Justice.
Keynote Speakers are Stanley Hauerwas (Duke University), Timothy Gorringe (University of Exeter) and John Rogerson (University of Sheffield, Emeritus). Other speakers include James Crossley, Philip Davies, Daid Horrell, Louise Lawrence, Mary Mills, Hugh Pyper, Christpher Rowland, Gerald West, and Keith Whitelam.
Faculty members and research students are invited to submit abstracts, which will be accepted until 24 January 2008, and participate in this conference. For more information visit the website or contact conference organizer, Matthew Coomber.
A ‘John Owen for Today Conference’ has been announced for 19-22 August 2008. It will be held at Westminster College, Cambridge and the speakers will be Alan Spence, Steve Holmes, Carl Trueman, Kelly Kapic, Sebastian Rehnman, Crawford Gribben, Suzanne Macdonald & Michael Horton.
It’s great to see such a conference being organised. On top of having really awesome hair, Owen is arguably English Nonconformity’s most significant pastor and theologian. If you want a taste of his work, I highly recommend reading his Communion with God, his The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, as well as his excellent work on the Spirit (you could start with this one or with this CD). It’s also worth checking out Jim Gordon’s recent review of Carl Trueman’s book, John Owen, Reformed Catholic, Renaissance Man.
A conference blog has also been set up here.
Those back in OZ may be interested to know that Queensland Theological College will be hosting Drs Gerald Bray and Alister McGrath in the coming months. Here’s the details and the related blurb:
DR. GERALD BRAY IGNORING THE PAST – MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES?
SEPTEMBER 14
Dr. Gerald Bray is Professor of Theology at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama and formerly taught at Oak Hill Theological College in London. A prolific author, Dr. Bray has published many scholarly articles and books, including The Doctrine of God. He is considered by many to be one of the foremost thinkers and theologians in the contemporary church. Free Public Lecture held at Queensland Theological College, 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. Dr. Bray will also be giving a three-day seminar: Controversies over Christ: Then and Now. The seminar runs September 11-13, from 9:30am to 3:00pm each day at QTC.
DR. ALISTER MCGRATH THE BANKRUPTCY OF ATHEISM
MONDAY, OCTOBER 1
Dr. Alister McGrath is Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford University and formerly Principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is a world-renowned theologian, the author of over 30 books, which have been translated into over 20 languages. Dr. McGrath is known for explaining difficult ideas to lay audiences. In his talk he will challenge the assumption that the world is becoming more secular and discuss why atheism cannot provide the moral and intellectual guidance needed for modern life. 7:00 for a 7:15 start at the Raybould Lecture Theatre on the University of Queensland campus.
For more information contact QTC here.
The World Reformed Fellowship regional group for Europe is organising a conference (30th October – 1st November) entitled ‘The Challenge of the New Europe’ which will look at ways in which Christianity can influence, or has been influenced by, the changes in the European Union.
Speakers include Lord MacKay of Clashfern, former Lord Chancellor of the UK; Sir Fred Catherwood, former Vice President of the European Parliament; Professor Roel Kuiper, Professor at the Erasmus University of Rotterdam and member of the Senate of the Dutch Parliament; Professor Henri Blocher, French theologian and Chairman of the Fellowship of European Evangelical Theologians; Dr Peter Jones, New Testament scholar and founder of CWiPP (Christian Witness to a Pagan Planet); Dr Paul Wells, a systematic theologian who teaches at Aix en Provence; Dr Emil Bartos, pastor and theologian from Romania; and Dr Leonardo de Chirico, theologian and vice president of the Italian Evangelical Alliance.
For more information contact Mrs Fiona Cameron, Highland Theological College, High Street, Dingwall, IV15 9HA, Scotland.
jasongoroncy.com 
