Upcoming studies in religion seminar at UQ – A Spirit-Word-Community Hermeneutic for Brueggemann’s “Preaching as Reimagination” Model Presented by Associate Professor Neil Pembroke
27 September 2019 2:00pm–3:00pm
Walter Brueggemann is a leading American scholar of the Bible and preacher. In this seminar, his idea of Spirit-led redescription of the world is developed through offering a Spirit-Word-Community approach to interpreting Scripture. Here ‘Word’ means the witness of the Bible, and ‘community’ encompasses the local faith community, the contemporary global community of faith, the tradition of biblical exegesis and theological reflection, and relevant thinkers in the non-theological community (psychologists, philosophers, sociologists, etc.).

Venue Level 3, Forgan Smith East (1), St Lucia Campus, University of Queensland
Room: E319

Details at https://hpi.uq.edu.au/event/session/4225

In the first half of 2019 a team of researchers headed up by Prof Paul Oslington at Alphacrucis College undertook a thorough review of the ERA journal ranking project begun by a panel of the Council of Deans of Theology about 7-8 years ago and updated every two years or so since then.

The findings of Paul and his team, which includes an analysis of their methodology, was published in the June issue of Colloquium, vol 51.1.  We have made the article publicly accessible through the link below:

https://anzats.edu.au/journal/back-issues/51-1/

This article reports on a project to expand the evidence base for Australian theological
research in two ways. Firstly, by preparing an evidence-based, expert informed
ranking of religion and theology journals. Secondly, by analysing Australian Research
Council grants in religion and theology, and benchmarking against other fields in
terms of grants awarded, success rates, relationship to staff numbers, and publications.
Some recommendations for enhancing the role of religion and theology research
emerge from this analysis. The project is set in the context of the history of Australian
theological research within the Australian higher education system.

Details of other articles in this edition can also be found here at

Volume 51:1 June 2019

Thursday 29 August 2019

 Renaissance Religions: Modes and Meanings in History

This paper addresses some current issues surrounding approaches to the study of religion in the pre-reformation period. In particular, revisionist approaches to humanism and humanists are forcing a re-evaluation of the framing of belief and the boundaries between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are seen to be more fluid and porous, while a keen interest in devotion and materiality has lent new voice to ‘subaltern’ elements in society.  I will be taking Florence in the late fifteenth century as my case study, and will examine how newly discovered texts and approaches to antique religions were challenging understandings of the nature of theology and the boundaries of orthodoxy. I will draw upon material that has hitherto escaped comment in the historiography.

Peter Howard is Director of the Institute for Religion and Critical inquiry at the Australian Catholic University, and formerly Founding Director of the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Monash University.

Further details at https://iash.uq.edu.au/article/2019/08/ilh-public-seminar-series-semester-two-2019

https://wordpress.com/post/brisbaneanzats.org

Queensland Theological College has a one day seminar as part of its Masters unit on reading and preaching Ezekiel with Daniel Block. For most students of the Old Testament the book of Ezekiel is a riddle. Come along to start unlocking the keys to this mysterious book through a firsthand look at the biblical text and to recognize its significance for ministry in the 21st century.

Two great papers are coming up next Friday, August 23^rd at 2pm at the University of Queensland in E319 in the Forgan Smith. Linda Stargel will present a paper entitled, ‘Jesus and the ‘Egyptian’ The other in Matthew 2’, and David Evans’ presentation is entitled, ‘The Reception of Paul in Athenagoras’ Presbeia Peri Christianōn.’