2007-2008 | 2006-2007 |2004-2005

The Hebrew Bible in Contemporary Intellectual Discourse
March 16-17, 2008

Modern biblical scholarship has done an exemplary job of unearthing the meaning and significance of the Hebrew Bible in its historical context, and careful philological study has illuminated much about the world of the Bible and its place in the literature of the ancient Near East. However, the methodology practiced by modern biblicists is fundamentally opposed to that preferred by faith communities, which turn to the Bible for its capacity to guide, inspire, and instruct.

Today, there is a new appreciation for the riches that diverse religious traditions contribute to modern thought and of the importance of religion in global politics. In this new intellectual and political climate, American constitutional law theorists, as well as political and legal theorists, are increasingly turning to the Bible as a valuable asset for modern thought. Their readings have spotlighted the Bible as a resource for contemporary civilization generally, and not only for contemporary faith communities. The use of the Bible by this school has enriched the fields of political theory, legal theory, and philosophy, and has contributed a fascinating dimension to reflections on the burning issues of the day. Yet, the reasons for the emergence of the Bible in contemporary intellectual discourse and the various purposes to which it has been put have never been adequately explored.

Panel One, "Retrieving the Bible in Contemporary Intellectual Discourse,"will introduce the theme of the conference by considering the actual and potential contributions of the Bible to contemporary intellectual discourse. How can the Hebrew Bible contribute to contemporary intellectual discourse, and why has it emerged as an important resource for so many contemporary thinkers? Panel Two, "The Book of Genesis and Contemporary Intellectual Discourse," will be open the general public, and will narrow the focus to the book of Genesis--a focal point in these discussions--and explore the various ways in which its narratives are understood by contemporary thinkers. Panels three, "Equality and the Bible," and four, "War, Violence, Sacrifice, and the Bible,"will serve as case studies for the contribution of the Bible to contemporary intellectual discourse. Panel five, "Comparative Reflections," will expand the discussion to encompass the New Testament and Qur'an and consider how the biblical traditions of Christianity and Islam have been assimilated in contemporary intellectual discourse.