Do we still need inspiration? Scriptures and theology
International Symposium | Université Catholique de Louvain
May 16-17, 2022 | Auditoire More 53
| Presentation
The aim of this conference is to scrutinize afresh the traditional notion of inspiration and related concepts such as revelation, in the framework of a theological reflection that takes into account both the challenges of biblical criticism and contemporary hermeneutics. What does it mean to speak of an inspired text when the manuscript evidence reveals that it is fluid, and when historical criticism shows that it is self-contradictory or fictional? Is there “theology” in the Bible, in spite of its inner plurality? Should reception be regarded as an integral part of revelation and/or of the inspiration process? Such questions will be raised not only in relation to Christianity, but also in relation to Judaism and Islam.
| Guest Speakers
Benjamin Sommer (The Jewish Theological Seminary, New York)
Emmanuel Durand (Université de Fribourg)
Konrad Schmid (Universität Zürich)
Mark Elliott (Wycliffe College, Toronto)
| Louvain Speakers
Benoît Bourgine
Matthieu Richelle
Mehdi Azaiez
Régis Burnet
| Program
May 16 | Inspired writing
08:45 Introduction
Olivier Riaudel, President of RSCS
Mehdi Azaiez, representing GRET
Theology within textual plurality?
09:00 Biblical plurality: a lively conversation embodied in Scriptures / Emmanuel Durand
09:40 Questions | Pause
10:00 Theologies in the Hebrew Bible and Theology of the Hebrew Bible: Some Methodological Considerations and Case Studies / Konrad Schmid
10:40 Questions | Pause
11:00 A theology of the Hebrew Bible? An exegetical study / Camilla Recalcati, Martijn Beukenhorst, Pierre-Edouard Detal, Salvatore Manfroid
11:15 The respiration of the Scripture. Can there be inspiration without expiration? I / Alain Martial, Florence Draguet, Louis de Brouwer, Pedro Valinho Gomes
11:30 Discussion
How to deal with textual fluidity?
14:00 Textual Fluidity as a Challenge to Inspiration? A Biblical Scholar’s Point of View / Matthieu Richelle
14:40 Questions | Pause
15:00 Textual Fluidity as a Challenge to Inspiration? A Systematic Theologian’s Point of View / Benoît Bourgine
15:40 Questions | Pause
16:00 Response of Emmanuel Durand
16:15 Response of Konrad Schmid
16:30 Discussion
17:15 Closing of the works
May 17 | Inspired reading
08:45 Introduction
Active participation in revelation?
09:00 Revelation’s activating: the verbal as the expression of the personal impression / Mark Elliott
09:40 Questions | Pause
10:00 Reception as Revelation: A Participatory Theory of Inspiration in Jewish Tradition and Scripture / Benjamin Sommer
10:40 Questions | Pause
11:00 What are the limits to an inspired text? Exegetical remarks on (non-)inspired writing / Camilla Recalcati, Martijn Beukenhorst, Pierre-Edouard Detal, Salvatore Manfroid
11:15 The Respiration of the Scripture. Can there be inspiration without expiration? II / Alain Martial, Florence Draguet, Louis de Brouwer, Pedro Valinho Gomes
11:30 Discussion
Reception as revelation?
14:00 New Testament Inspiration and Apocryphal subtext: the Case of the Epistle of Jude / Régis Burnet
14:40 Questions | Pause
15:00 Qur’ān Inspiration and Biblical Subtexts: the Case of Q. 5:32 and Q. 19:16-33 / Mehdi Azaiez
15:40 Questions | Pause
16:00 Response of Mark Elliot
16:15 Response of Benjamin Sommer
16:30 Discussion
17:15 Closing of the Symposium
| Participation
Registration is compulsory. You may register here.
Students: Free
Presence fee: 50 €
Streaming fee: 30 €
For further information on the Symposium, please contact pedro.valinho@uclouvain.be or louis.debrouwer@uclouvain.be
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Les activités du groupe se déroulent selon une alternance entre :
- réunions de travail entre les membres (plusieurs demi-journées/an),
- journées scientifiques thématiques avec des experts invités (plusieurs journées/an)
- un colloque bisannuel