theLAB

The Logos Academic Blog

ISBL 2019 in Rome: Photoessay

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Words and photography by Tavis Bohlinger; shot on Hasselblad.

There were few good excuses for any scholar in the EU to miss ISBL this year (the annual international conference of the Society of Biblical Literature), simply because the conference was held in Rome. What better location for a conference on biblical studies than the geographical center of historical Christianity? Furthermore, the event itself was held at one of the key training centers for Roman Catholic clergy and teachers in this iconic city, the Pontificial Gregorian University, a beautiful location in the heart of Rome’s main attractions.

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David Ritsema on “What Makes a Good Biblical Scholar or Theologian?”

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I think the answer to that question can only be measured based on output. Good scholars can be recognized either through their writing or through their teaching. [Read more…]

Kevin O’Farrell on “What makes a good Biblical Scholar or Theologian?”

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A good theologian knows what they are doing and why they are doing it, asking the vocational questions of what it means to be a theologian and what it means to do their task well. A good theologian keeps these questions close at hand, since they clarify what it means to be a theologian in one’s own setting. [Read more…]

Teaching Outside Your Tradition: Four Suggestions Toward Transformational Pedagogy

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by Amy L. Balogh | University of Denver

As a professor who teaches Hebrew Bible and Judaic studies courses across Colorado’s Front Range while also working at the University of Denver’s Center for Judaic Studies, my non-Jewish identity is a topic of conversation more often than one might expect. These exchanges, as awkward as they are, also provide priceless opportunities to reflect on the pedagogical and ethical responsibilities that are specific to teaching and supporting a religious tradition other than the Christianity with which I was raised. [Read more…]

Max Botner on “What Makes a Good Biblical Scholar or Theologian?”

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From my perspective, a good biblical scholar is someone who is immersed in the primary sources, has a firm grasp of the history of the discipline, and communicates clearly with and listens to the voices of others. [Read more…]

Integrating Christian Faith in a Religiously Diverse Classroom

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Image source: https://www.northpark.edu/faculty-staff-directory/bradley-nassif/

by Brad Nassif | North Park University

North Park is a city-centered university in Chicago that warmly welcomes students of all backgrounds: Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, agnostics, atheists, LGBTQ or none of the above. Our core values are “urban, inter-cultural, and Christian.” We belong to the Evangelical Covenant Church, whose university board has recently asked our faculty to partner with the church by “making disciples” of students without, of course, imposing the faith on anyone. This raises the question: How might a dedicated Christian teach the faith in the context of a religiously diverse population of students? [Read more…]

Paul Sloan on “What makes a good Biblical Scholar or Theologian?”

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Photo credit: Houston Baptist University

Sometimes you just need four concise points to deliver a compelling message. Paul Sloan does that for us in this week’s edition of “What makes a good biblical scholar or theologian?” [Read more…]

Militant Grace: an Interview and Photo Essay with Philip Ziegler

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Photos by Tavis Bohlinger

One of the advantages to living in the UK is the ease with which one can get from London to Manchester, Oxford to Edinburgh, or, in my case last week, from Durham to Aberdeen. I found out on very short notice that Philip Ziegler, personal chair in dogmatics at King’s College, University of Aberdeen, was holding a symposium in which other scholars at Aberdeen engaged critically, and constructively, with his recent book, Militant Grace: The Apocalyptic Turn and the Future of Christian Theology (Baker Academic, 2018).

I had actually just finished reading the book and thoroughly enjoyed it (Ziegler writes with striking prose), but I was left with some nagging questions. So I booked a last-minute ticket up to Aberdeen last Thursday and settled in for the 5-hour train ride, much of it along the stunningly rugged coast of Scotland. Good thing I have a Kindle. [Read more…]

Recap of “Closing the Gap” Conference in Durham

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Words by Justin Allison, Photos by Tavis Bohlinger*

On June 18th and 19th, students, staff, and local attendees gathered in Durham for an international conference entitled “Closing the Gap: Best Practices for Integrating Historical and Theological Exegesis.” The aim was to host a conversation on the practice of theological interpretation, as opposed to the more abundant theoretical reflections upon that task. [Read more…]

Garrick Allen on “What makes a good Biblical Scholar or Theologian?”

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Persistence. Dealing with failure and rejection are inherent parts of the academic game, be it in journal submissions, book proposals, conference papers, job applications, grant applications, fellowships, awards, or promotion. [Read more…]