This seminar, co-sponsored by the Faculty of Theology and Religion, is the flagship seminar of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament subject area in Oxford. It runs each term and hosts an international array of scholars in the field of Biblical Studies. The seminar is attended by a variety of faculties across the University of Oxford. Students and faculty members participate in discussions during the formal sessions, as well as in more informal discussions each week after the seminars.
Michaelmas Term 2025
Theme: Trauma in Biblical Texts
Weeks 2-8
Mondays, 14:30-16:00
Seminar Room 30.301 B, Faculty of Theology and Religion Schwarzman Centre Level 3
Convened by Katherine E. Southwood
Week 2, 20 October
Danilo Verde (Cambridge): Trauma and Ideology in the Book of Lamentations
Week 3, 27 October
Christl Maier (Marburg): The Book of Jeremiah as a Cultural Trauma Narrative
Week 4, 3 November
David Janzen (Durham): Trauma Theories, Category Mistakes, and Postexilic Judah as a Traumatized Society
Week 5, 10 November
Rebekah Van Sant (Oxford): Deception, Subversion, and Femininity in the book of Esther and the Joseph Narrative
Week 6, 17 November
Professionalization Session and Writers workshop
Week 7, 24 November
Rosanne Liebermann (Aarhus): Animal Metaphors for Trauma and Illness in the Psalms
Week 8, 1 December
Alexiana Fry (Copenhagen): Trauma, Self-Defence, and Revenge in Esther
There will be a chance to talk informally after the seminar over tea and coffee. For programme updates please see the website: https://www.centreforbible.oriel.ox.ac.uk/events/hebrew-bible-old-testament-seminar/.