First International Conference On The New Testament Text, Meaning and Cognition
Faculty of Theology, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa, March 2015, 4th-6th (Hosted by The Bibliological and Hermeneutical Perspectives Sub-Unit for Reformational Theology)
Keynote PresenterS
Dr Stanley E. Porter,President and Dean, Professor of New Testament, Roy A. Hope Chair in Christian Worldview, McMaster Divinity College, Canada.
Dr Bonnie Howe received her Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union, and teaches at the Dominican University of California, and New College Berkeley, GTU. Her groundbreaking work. Because You Bear This Name: Conceptual Metaphor and the Moral Meaning of 1 Peter received much critical acclaim.
In the foreword to “Because You Bear This Name: Conceptual Metaphor and the Moral Meaning of 1 Peter”, Joel Green (Howe, 2006: xviii-xix) observes that, with reference to our understanding of language and specifically metaphor, the world of biblical scholarship “has gone about its business quietly, unaffected by … tectonic shifts, largely unaware of the quiet revolution gathering around the work of George Lakoff, Mark Johnson, Eve Sweetser, Mark Turner, and other cognitive linguists”. We are left with an “old-world understanding of symbols and ideas, disembodied and abstract” resulting in the treatment of metaphor “as evidence of a writer’s cultural conditioning or as flowery decoration.” In this process, the potential that textual meaning holds is explored sub-optimally
Conference Theme
Rhetoric and Cognition in the New Testament: Methodological Exploration and Innovation in Textual Meaning in the Greek New Testament
Studies of biblical and related ancient texts have always, and necessarily so, stood on the shoulders of or hand in hand with other scientific disciplines. Thus, a tradition developed by which the horizons of New Testament studies expanded due to advances in literary critical developments in for example, literature studies, linguistics and philosophy. A cautious attitude, however, seem to hamper continuous exploration, experimentation and adoption and stifles the progress of studies in textual meaning despite the proliferation of methodological innovations in other disciplines engaged in unearthing textual meaning.
Rhetoric and Cognition in the New Testament: Methodological Exploration and Innovation in Textual Meaning in the Greek New Testament
Studies of biblical and related ancient texts have always, and necessarily so, stood on the shoulders of or hand in hand with other scientific disciplines. Thus, a tradition developed by which the horizons of New Testament studies expanded due to advances in literary critical developments in for example, literature studies, linguistics and philosophy. A cautious attitude, however, seem to hamper continuous exploration, experimentation and adoption and stifles the progress of studies in textual meaning despite the proliferation of methodological innovations in other disciplines engaged in unearthing textual meaning.
Call For Papers
This international conference invites academics who dive head-first into investigating these "tectonic shifts", surfacing an understanding of symbols and ideas based on empirical reseach of cognition and meaning. Papers bold enough to advance the discussion and explore our understanding of textual meaning specifically of, but not limited to, the New Testament text are welcome. Quality contributions that experiment with, explore and present fresh insights into New Testament language and metaphor in light of recent developments in linguistics, cognitive linguistics, cognitive literary theory, metaphor, rhetorics and poetics, receive preferential treatment. These include contributions that explore, introduce and pioneer crisp interactions with the text, based on the dissolution of disciplinary boundaries and that encourage methodological collaboration. Papers linking at a more general level with the abovementioned foci are also welcome.
Young and Upcoming NT Scholars (YUNTS) Plenary. Papers by registered Masters or PhD students (graduate students) on this theme will be welcomed. The best one will be delivered as a plenary and included for publication.
We are approaching a reputable academic publisher with a view to publish a book based on this theme. All papers will therefore be considered for this publication.
This international conference invites academics who dive head-first into investigating these "tectonic shifts", surfacing an understanding of symbols and ideas based on empirical reseach of cognition and meaning. Papers bold enough to advance the discussion and explore our understanding of textual meaning specifically of, but not limited to, the New Testament text are welcome. Quality contributions that experiment with, explore and present fresh insights into New Testament language and metaphor in light of recent developments in linguistics, cognitive linguistics, cognitive literary theory, metaphor, rhetorics and poetics, receive preferential treatment. These include contributions that explore, introduce and pioneer crisp interactions with the text, based on the dissolution of disciplinary boundaries and that encourage methodological collaboration. Papers linking at a more general level with the abovementioned foci are also welcome.
Young and Upcoming NT Scholars (YUNTS) Plenary. Papers by registered Masters or PhD students (graduate students) on this theme will be welcomed. The best one will be delivered as a plenary and included for publication.
We are approaching a reputable academic publisher with a view to publish a book based on this theme. All papers will therefore be considered for this publication.
Upload Abstracts (200 words) HERE . DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: 23 FEBRUARY 2015