Contextuality and the crisis of Biblical studies

Approaches such as contextual, gender and postcolonial bible studies, childist criticism, autobiographical reading, and bibliodrama have in common that they view the hermeneutical understanding of the reader's contribution to the meaning-making process as an asset, not an obstacle to scientific interpretation. Although they have been and sometimes still are viewed with suspicion by mainstream exegesis, these practices of interpretation are known for their transformative power and their potential to renew the scientific field.

In this panel, we reflect on methods that integrate the views of non-professional recipients. The overarching question is: how can collaborative research methods help generate meaning useful in dealing with personal, local and global problems for the individual, the religious community and society?

Panel members

• Moderator: Klaas Spronk, professor Old Testament, PThU
• Janneke Stegeman, PhD, theologian specialised in the Old Testament: ‘Decolonising Jeremiah with Israeli-Jewish and Palestinian Christian readers’
• Iris Veerbeek, Junior Fellow, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: ‘Imagining Good Futures: children’s theology as an approach for intergenerational biblical reflection on sustainable futures’
• Kirsten van der Ham: PhD student, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: ‘Can Contextual Bible Study and Intercultural Bible Reading with Bible Study groups help overcome racial ideologies engrained in Dutch Christian communities’
• Peter-Ben Smit: professor contextual Bible interpretation, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: ‘How can collaborative research methods assist to generate meaning that is helpful in dealing with personal, local and global problems for the individual, the religious community and society?’

Theologians, ministers, pastors, church workers.

The panel lasts approximately 1.5 hours. The course material remains permanently available and can be viewed at any time.

Costs for this online course are € 10.

You can register by filling in the form on this page. You will be able to pay immediately. After payment, you will receive the course material via the email address you entered on the form.