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The Birmingham Research Network on the Bible and Culture

Researchers that make up this network specialize in the composition and transmission of texts in antiquity; the social world of ancient scribes and copyists including the Dead Sea Scrolls; ancient writing practices; power relations and enslavement as a facet of the social world of the Bible; the role of the Bible in contemporary culture and education; digital scholarly editing, including editions of New Testament texts and manuscripts; and theoretical engagement with spatial theory, gender and sexuality studies, and disability.

The scholarship of our researchers has been cited and profiled in The Telegraph, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly, CNN, Politico, The Times, Slate, and the BBC.

Our Biblical Studies Seminar meets twice a month online and attracts an international group of speakers and attendees from the disciplines of theology, biblical studies, classics, archaeology, and ancient history. As well as our regular meetings, more informal workshops, co-organized with collaborators at other institutions, provide venues for focused conversations on specific topics (e.g., Natal Alienation and Immigration).

In addition, the world-renowned Institute for Textual Scholarship and Electronic Editing (ITSEE), directed by Network member Professor Hugh Houghton, serves as a hub for the creation of online and printed editions of scriptural texts and manuscripts. It also convenes the Birmingham Colloquium on the Textual Criticism of the New Testament, which meets biennually.

Similarly, the Edward Cadbury Center for the Public Understanding of Religion, directed by Professor Andrew Davies, regularly organizes events relevant to the Bible’s influence in contemporary society, most notably the Edward Cadbury Lectures.

Members

  • Candida Moss (Network Lead) – New Testament, enslavement, and disability
  • Andrew Davies – Impact of the Bible and public religion
  • Deryn Guest - Transgender, lesbian and queer interpretations of Biblical texts
  • Charlotte Hempel – Dead Sea Scrolls and Hebrew Bible
  • Hugh Houghton – Editions and transmission of the New Testament
  • U-Wen Low - The Bible and Postcolonial and Decolonial Perspectives
  • Karen Wenell – Spatial theory, ethical consuming, human rights

Research areas

Doctoral researchers

Select publications

Events

2021

  • November 17: Karina Atudosie (University of Birmingham) “Power in the Song of Songs”
  • December 6: Meredith Warren (University of Sheffield) “Slut Shaming the Samaritan Woman”
  • December 15: Chontel Syfox (University of Wisconsin-Madison) “Rewriting the Rape of Dinah: Gender Violence in Jub. 30”

2022

  • February 2: Sarit Kattan Gribetz (Fordham)
  • February 9: Meghan Henning (University of Dayton)
  • February 23: Maddy Richey (Brandeis)
  • March 9: Jennifer Barry (University of Mary Washington)
  • March 30: Chance Bonar (Harvard)
  • May 4: Cate Bonesho (UCLA)
  • May 11: Elif Hilal Karaman (Dokuz Eylul University)
  • May 25: Brian Rainey (Princeton Theological Seminary)