PhD studentship

Christian theology. Announcing the Lincoln International Doctoral Studentship, available from Sept 2020.  For details on how to apply, see further information.

Lincoln Theological Institute, annual meeting

Christian theology. Keith Brown, Dean of Humanities, addressed the LTI trustees at the annual meeting, 11 Nov 2019. The LTI is directed by Peter Scott and is a national and international centre of expertise in the theological study of religion and society and a promoter of theological research and study into a variety of ethical, pastoral, social and ecclesial issues. Further information.

Consultancy, video game

Christian theology. David Law has acted as theological consultant for the forthcoming video game I am Jesus Christ by the game developers Steam. 'They needed advice on how to walk on water,' explained Prof Law, drafter of the Dept's REF environment statement. Daniel Langton, Head of Religions & Theology, commented: 'This is just the start of what we hope will be a new strategic direction for our Dept, as part of the Creative Manchester initiative. Certainly, it’s probably the best use we can make of senior colleagues with god complexes.' Prof Law has asked for suggestions for charities to which he can donate his substantial consultancy fees.

Post doctoral Fellowship opportunities

Open to Religious Studies. The University of Manchester offers up to two Simon Postdoctoral Fellowships, 3 years fixed term, £32,816 to £51,034 per annum. These fellowships are for Social Sciences broadly defined, and are open to those working in religious social history, cultural history, and political history, especially if the project engages with social or socio-political history. Deadline: Fri 3 January 2020. For advice from a Religious Studies perspective, contact: daniel.r.langton@manchester.ac.uk. For details on eligibility and on how to apply, see further information.

Social responsibility, widening participation

Oxford and Manchester collaboration. Clive Agnew, Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students, spoke at the launch of the Goldsmiths Centre for Philosophy and World Religions at the Whitworth Council Chamber, University of Manchester, 28 Nov 2019. The new centre is associated with the OxNet programme, with which the Dept of Religions & Theology is partnered. The programme is designed to attract A-level students located in the North of the UK, selected by Pembroke College, Oxford, with the aim of encouraging the study of religions and theology at university, among other areas in the humanities. Michael Hoelzl will co-ordinate an OxNet evening seminar series given by Manchester-based lecturers entitled ‘Religion and Knowledge' (early 2020) and Ketan Alder and Kamran Karimullah will host and contribute to the Easter 2020 OxNet conference, also located at the University of Manchester.

Interdisciplinary conference, undergraduate

R&T and ArtsMethods day conference. Brought to you by the Department of Religions & Theology and ArtsMethods, this conference on 'Good and Evil' is an opportunity for undergraduate students to share their own work in front of peers, graduate students, and members of faculty. It is an interdisciplinary conference which approaches and engages the themes of good and evil from multiple perspectives and features student presenters from multiple departments. The conference also features a keynote presentation by Dr Mark Hocknull, who is Associate Professor and Philosophy Programme Leader at the University of Lincoln. Refreshments will be available throughout the conference and a nibbles and drinks reception will follow. 2-7pm, 11 December 2019 Ellen Wilkinson Conference Room & Atrium. Email ugconference@manchester.ac.uk for further information.

Funding, postgraduate

Jewish Studies. Rob Kanter has been awarded SALC PGR travel funding to visit the Anglo-Jewish Archives and the Parkes Institute at the University of Southampton. His doctoral studies are on the subject ‘History of Jewish-Muslim Relations in the UK, c.1900-1999’.

BBC Radio 4

Islamic Studies. Alan Williams discusses with Ernie Rea of Radio 4's Beyond Belief the appeal of the thirteenth-century Persian poet Rumi in front of an audience at the BBC's Contains Strong Language Festival in Hull. Broadcast 4:30pm, Mon 2 December. Further information.

Scriptural Encounters

Reading challenging sacred texts. Scriptural Encounters bring together different faiths to debate and discuss controversial topics. The next theme will be Holy Places, principally Jerusalem (extending to Israel/Palestine) and Mecca. Texts from Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions will be studied and discussed each time with insights offered from other sources as appropriate. 4.00-5.30pm, 12 December, A115 Samuel Alexander Building. Further information.

Consultancy, TV documentary

Biblical Studies. Andy Boakye has contributed to the TV documentary series Secrets on the topic of crucifixion in the Roman Empire. The relevant episode will air on the Smithsonian Channel (US) at 8pm on 23 Dec 2019, and on Channel 5 (UK) in the near future. Further information.

Symposium, Jewish Muslim Relations

Jewish-Muslim Research Network. Dr Katja Stuerzenhofecker and Prof Cathy Gelbin are two of several speakers presenting at the symposium on 'Gender and Sexuality in/around Judaism and Islam'. 12 December 2019, Ellen Wilkinson Building, University of Manchester. Further information. 

Christmas Social Event

For all staff and students. R&T students are holding a Christmas social at the Turing Tap on Monday 9 December from 4.00-6:30pm. All staff and students are welcome! For the purposes of catering, please let Ashley (ashley.west@manchester.ac.uk) know if you're planning to attend.

Public Lecture, MMU

South African Jews, Apartheid and Israel. Sam Johnson Memorial Lecture by Prof Shirli Gilbert (UCL) on 'South African Jews, Apartheid and Israel’ on Dec 4 2019 at 5:30pm. Geoffrey Manton LT 3, Manchester Metropolitan University. Further information.

Research Seminar, Ehrhardt Seminar

Biblical Studies. Professor Bernard Jackson (Manchester) presents 'Ruth, Rachel, and Domestic Religion'. 5.206 University Place, 2pm - 4pm, December 12 2019.  Further information.

Reading Group, Manchester

Jewish-Muslim Research Network. The next session of the JMRN reading group is on December 6 2019, 12.30-2pm, facilitated by Zainab Salloo (Manchester). Further information. 

MA Fees Bursary in Jewish Studies

Masters degree studies at the University of Manchester, 2020-21. This is a home/EU fees bursary for MA students who make Jewish Studies topics their main study focus in their MA in Religions and Theology. One bursary will be awarded each year on a competitive basis. There are no eligibility criteria based on nationality, but please note that the bursary is restricted to the maximum cost of home/EU fees. The opportunity to apply is now open and will remain open until the award has been made. Interested parties are encouraged to submit the online application to the Religions and Theology MA programme and the MA Funding Application Form as soon as possible. The final deadline is 5pm on 1 May 2020 unless the bursary has been awarded earlier. Further information.

Religion in... The Tablet

Down and Out in Yidsbury. 'How I sat out the Vietnam War in an English department in Manchester, England, only to come home to one in New York: In the fall of 1964, about two months after my wife, Eleanor, and I settled in Didsbury...' By Jonah Raskin. Further information.

Research seminar, departmental

Biblical Studies. Dr Katie Edwards (Sheffield) will deliver her paper 'Rape Myths and Gospel Truths: The Bible and Sexual Violence' on December 5 at 4pm in Room 2.217, University Place, Oxford Street. (This session was originally scheduled for September 26 but was cancelled for medical reasons.) 

New publication, Church of England

Faith and Order Report. Philip Alexander, FBA, was a member of the drafting group for a major statement published by the Church of England entitled God’s Unfailing Word: Theological and Practical Perspectives on Christian–Jewish Relations (2019). This statement has received wide Press coverage, including The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Times, The Jewish Chronicle, The Church Times, and The Times of Israel, and cites the works of a number of Manchester-based academics, including: Philip Alexander's article ‘Why did Lord Balfour Back the Balfour Declaration?’ (2018); Daniel Langton's The Apostle Paul in the Jewish Imagination (2010) and  Children of Zion (2008); Jews and Christians: Perspectives on Mission (2011), co-edited by CJS honorary research fellow Rabbi Dr Reuven Silverman and Daniel Langton; George Brooke's The Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament (2005); Bernard Jackson's article ‘Legalism’ (1979); CJS honorary research fellow Rabbi Dr Michael Hilton's The Christian Effect on Jewish Life (1994); and Geoffrey Wigoder's Jewish–Christian Relations since the Second World War (1988), based on the 1987 Sherman Lectures at the University of Manchester.

Research Seminar, Ehrhardt Seminar

Biblical Studies. Dr Adrian Curtis presents 'Weeping at Bethel: An Old Idea Revisited'. 5.206 University Place, 2pm - 4pm, 5 December 2019. Further information. 

Consultation, JPIT

Christian Theology. Peter Scott gave a briefing paper on 'Ecotheology' to the Joint Public Issues Team meeting on economy and ecology. JPIT is an interdenominational committee of Churches working for Peace and Justice: Baptists Together, The Church of Scotland, the Methodist Church, and the United Reformed Church. 20 November 2019.

Religion in... BBC news

South Asian Studies. Last month some Manchester University students called on the City Council in an open letter to remove a statue of Gandhi outside the Town Hall due to his alleged 'well-documented anti-black racism'. To find more about this debate, see the BBC news report, 19 Oct 2019. Further information.

Paper, SBL, San Diego

Biblical Studies. Peter Oakes will present 'A House Church Account of Economics and Empire' at the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting in San Diego on November 24 2019. The paper is the draft new first chapter of a retrospective collection of Peter's published work, Empire, Economics, and the New Testament (Eerdmans, 2020).

CJS annual report

For the year 2018-19. The Centre for Jewish Studies annual report for the previous academic year is now available online. Further information.

Public lectures, British Academy

Dead sea scrolls. George J. Brooke (Manchester and Chester) presents the 2019 Schweich Lectures on Biblical Archaeology on 'The Dead Sea Scrolls as archaeological artefacts' on the 5, 12 and 19 Nov 2019 6.30pm. The British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London. Further information.

Religion in... TED Talks

Technology, education, design. An interesting array of religious topics are explored as short TED Talks. The most recent talk was entitled 'One Earth and Many Religions' by Zaki Cooper. For other speakers, see further information.

Teacher training, report

Understanding religious lives through story. John Zavos reports on a recent Manchester-Edinburgh collaboration: 'It's been a while since I’ve found myself acting alongside a colleague in a scene of domestic tension, then being asked to reflect with others on what this tells us about religious ideas and practices...' Further information.

Teaching innovation

Undergraduate Scholar Project. Alex Samely is participating in a pilot project for undergraduate teaching in the School of Arts Languages and Cultures. The Undergraduate Scholars Project encourages students to engage in (non-credit) funded research and writing on a variety of over-arching themes. Alex will direct students on the theme of 'How the Story of Our Words Informs and Distorts Present Knowledge' as they explore the history of concepts that appear in documents such as political manifestos, government policy papers and official reports. Teaching excellence, as reflected by high student satisfaction and teaching awards, is central to the departmental ethos.

Research Seminar, Ehrhardt Seminar

Biblical Studies. Josh Bloor (Nazarene Theological College) presents 'Jesus' Earthly and Heavenly Offerings in the Epistle to the Hebrews: An Engagement with Recent Scholarship'. 2pm - 4pm, 28 November 2019. Further information. 

Student competition

Theology Slam.  To enter this Church of England competition you need to write 500 words on one of twelve contemporary issues. You can explore your chosen topic as a whole or pick one specific aspect; the key point is that your piece is theological and relevant to everyday life. Deadline 5 Jan 2020. Further information.

New publication

Melilah vol 13 on 'Gender in Jewish Studies'. Announcing the publication of the latest volume of the Centre for Jewish Studies' Open Access journal Melilah, the proceedings of the Sherman Conversations 2017. Edited by Katja Stuerzenhofecker and Renate Smithuis. Assistant editor: Lawrence Rabone. Contributors include Judith R. Baskin, Katja Stuerzenhofecker, Ruth Gilbert, Tamar S. Drukker, Melissa Raphael, Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz, Lisa Fishbayn Joffe, Laliv Clenman, Naomi Graetz, Tali Artman Partock, Cecilia Haendler, Etka Liebowitz, Efraim Sicher, Einat Ramon. Further information.

New publication

Dead Sea Scrolls. George J. Brooke, 'Aramaic Traditions from the Qumran Caves and the Palestinian Sources for Part of Luke’s Special Material' in Vision, Narrative, and Wisdom in the Aramaic Texts from Qumran (Leiden: Brill, 2019), 203-220. Further information.

Research Seminar, Ehrhardt Seminar

Biblical Studies. Professor George J. Brooke (Manchester and Chester) presents 'Patterns of Priesthood and Patterns of Prayer in the Dead Sea Scrolls'. 2pm - 4pm, 21 November 2019. Further information. 

Research Seminar, Ehrhardt Seminar

Biblical Studies. Dr Benedict Kent and Professor Peter Oakes (Manchester) present 'Enabling Public Understanding of Social Diversity Among New Testament Audiences'. 2pm - 4pm, 14 November 2019. Further information. 

Research Seminar, Religions & Theology

Religions and Theology. Dr Thomas Harvey (Oxford Centre for Mission Studies) presents, 'Back to the Future: Xi Jinping, Civil Society and Religious Policy'. 4pm - 5.30pm, November 21 2019. Further information. 

Survivor testimony

Holocaust studies. Marianne Philips will provide students with an autobiographical account of her flight from Nazi Germany to Britain, followed by Q&A. Organised by Cathy Gelbin. Monday, 9 December, 2pm in Simon Building room 5.05. Further information. NOW FULL.

Laptops for research students

PGR Student IT Catalogue. Postgraduate research students can request a laptop for the duration of their studies. The PGR student IT catalogue scheme is aimed at those who do not have ready access to a computer; it is part of the IT budget for postgraduate researchers. Approval is required from the supervisor (i.e. a case made for why it is needed). Email Lawrence Rabone, a PhD student who benefitted recently from this scheme, if you want advice on applying. Further information.

Employment internship

In partnership with University of Chester. The Centre for Jewish Studies hosted Surya Singh, a Chester University UG, to work with us on various Centre activities, including the Bill Williams Jewish Studies library catalogue in May-June 2019. Further information.

Postgraduate representative, BAJS

Committee member of BAJS. Congratulations to Katharina Keim, Postdoctoral Fellow in Jewish Studies at Lund University (Sweden) and CJS Honorary Research Fellow at University of Manchester, who has been elected as the new PGR/ECR representative on the committee of the British Association for Jewish Studies (BAJS). She follows on from Marton Ribary, who also completed his PhD at Manchester and taught here. Further information.

Monthly update

Subscription link. Send this webpage link on to anyone who might be interested to receive the monthly update, which is a snapshot of the previous month's R&T blog entries, including information on forthcoming events and activities. Further information.

New publication, online essay

Contemporary religion and society.  Alex Samely has written a short essay entitled 'Could religious tradition be the antidote to fundamentalism?' in the online collection of essays On Cohesion for policy@manchester.

New publication, blog entry

Contemporary religion and society. Peter Scott has written a blog entry entitled 'Peterloo and the Public Liturgy of Commemoration' for the Lincoln Theological Institute.

Event programme, Luther King House

Christian theology. Luther King House is one of our partner institutions and is located in nearby Fallowfield. It represents Baptist, Methodist, United Reformed and Unitarian traditions. See their programme of activities, including public events on ageing & spirituality (14 Nov), practices of silence (26 Nov), theologies of the body (24-27 Feb), and spirituality in contemporary society (12 March). Further information.

Event programme, Nazarene Theological College

Christian theology. The Nazarene Theological College is one of our partner institutions and is located in nearby Didsbury. Associated with the Church of the Nazarene, which emerged in the nineteenth-century, NTC belongs to the World Methodist Council. See their programme of activities, including public events on conflict in the Church (23 Nov) and, in collaboration with our own department, on theology & disability (31 Jan). Further information.

Scriptural Encounters

Reading challenging sacred texts. Scriptural Encounters bring together different faiths to debate and discuss controversial topics. The next meeting will on the theme of Holy Places in the End of Days. Come along and listen or take part in the discussion. 4:00-5:30pm, Thu 14 November 2019, in A115 Samuel Alexander building, University of Manchester. Further information.

Hasse Memorial Prize 2019

Postgraduate prize. This prize of £250 is awarded annually for the best MA dissertation in the area of the study of Religions and Theology. For 2019, it was awarded to Dominic Ashton: ‘An Analysis of Performative Irony in Nietzsche’s philosophical Discourse’ (supervised by Michael Hoelzl).

Brandon Memorial Prize 2019

Postgraduate prize. This prize of £100 is awarded annually for the best MA dissertation in the area of Comparative Religion. For 2019, it was awarded to Alexandra Laing on ‘Menopause and the Construction of the Female Body in the Hebrew Bible’ (supervised by Holly Morse).

Bernard Jackson Prize 2019

Postgraduate prize. This prize of £100 is awarded annually to the student with 'the highest grade for a master's dissertation in Jewish Studies' at the University of Manchester. It honours the Centre's second co-director Bernard Jackson. For 2019 it was awarded to Nathan Mee, 'American Cyrus: The Genealogy of Christian Zionism, and its Influence on Britain and America’s Israel Policy' (supervised by Daniel Langton). Further information.

PhD completion

Raj Patta on contemporary Christian theology. The Department would like to congratulate Raj Patta on the successful defence of his doctoral thesis ‘Towards a Subaltern Public Theology for India’. His supervisors were Peter Scott and Scott Midson and the external examiner was Prof. Mario Aguilar (St Andrews).

PhD completion

Stephanie Dermott on contemporary religion. The Department would like to congratulate Stephanie Dermott on the successful defence of her doctoral thesis 'Faith, Social Cohesion and Socio-religious Action in contemporary Britain’. Her supervisors were John Zavos and Peter Scott, and the external examiner was John Eade (Roehampton).