National Gallery Exhibition

Biblical Studies. CBS Hon. Research Fellow Siobhán Jolley is assistant curator of the digital space of "Fruits of The Spirit: Art from the Heart" at the National Gallery, London. Siobhán will be giving a talk on the theme of peace in March which is open for booking now. Further information.

Public Lecture, University of Chester

Christian Studies. On Tuesday 7 February 2023 at 7.30 PM, Peter Scott will present ‘Facing Gaia? Sketches of a Planetary Theology’ at a meeting of Chester Theological Society. Further information, including booking, here.

National Gallery Lunchtime Talk

Biblical Studies. CBS Hon. Research Fellow and the National Gallery's Howard and Roberta Ahmanson Research Fellow in Art & Religion Siobhán Jolley gave the lunchtime talk at the National Gallery on 30th November on Orazio Gentileschi’s The Rest on the Flight into Egypt. 

Call for academic participants

British religion. Call in relation to the ReSBri (Religion & Society in 19th-century Britain) network: "I'm constituting a network (Religion & Society in 19-c Britain, or ReSBri) whose aim is to apply for a Marie Curie Action (MSCA) "post-doctoral network" by 15 Nov 2023. The broad subject of our application will be the interrelated links and influences between Religion, Literature and Society in 19C Britain. We're currently thinking about what subjects, questions, incidents, persons etc, our application's scientific project could/should cover. Members can contribute in two ways: 1. Contributing to building the scientific project. 2. Contributing to elaborating the doctoral training programme we'll lay out in the application. If you’re interested to join us or simply would like to know more, you can contact me, Dr Jérôme Grosclaude, at jerome.grosclaude@uca.fr"

New Publication

Biblical Studies. CBS Hon. Research Fellow Siobhán Jolley has published "Asking for it? Lessons from Mary Magdalene in a Culture of Sexual Violence" in Map or Compass? The Bible on Violence, edited by Michael Spalione and Helen Paynter. Further information.

Research Seminar Paper

Biblical Studies. CBS Hon. Research Fellow Siobhán Jolley presented at the King's College London theology seminar on 29th November. The paper was “Killing Adam’s Eve: Thinking Theologically with BBC America’s Killing Eve” and Siobhán discussed how reading biblical themes in a secular TV show can act as a provocation for wider theological discussion.

Book Review

Theological Studies. Dr Eve Parker's recent book Trust in Theological Education: Deconstructing ‘Trustworthiness’ for a Pedagogy of Liberation (London: SCM, 2022) has been reviewed in Practical Theology.  Victoria Turner writes: "The integrity, sensitivity, and determination of Parker makes this book an intoxicating rally-cry for change". Further information.

New Publication

Dead Sea Scrolls. CBS Hon. Research Fellow Helen R. Jacobus has published "How 4QAstronomical Enocha–b (4Q208–209) Transformed Elements of Late Babylonian Magical Hemerological Texts into a Synchronistic Calendar," in Science in Qumran Aramaic Texts, ed. Ida Fröhlich (ASK 1; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2022) 83-109. Further information.

BBC Radio 4

Japanese Religion. Erica Baffelli (Japanese Studies) was interviewed on BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme a couple of weeks ago about recent developments in Japan regarding Unification Church. Listen here from about minute 12.

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

Biblical Studies. 15th December, Stephen Barton (University of Manchester and Durham University) ‘The Devil as ‘the Father of Lies’ in the Fourth Gospel’ at 2.00-3.30pm. The seminar will take place both in Mansfield Cooper 4.08 and on Zoom. To register to attend online, please email lev.eakins@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk. 

Lunchtime seminar

Religious history. The lunchtime seminar ran by the PhD students at the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine recently hosted Alex Hibberts (Durham University) speaking about 'Culverting Divine Power: Drainage Systems, Water, and the Monastic Imagination, c.1350-1550'. Further information.

Research Seminar Paper

New Testament Studies. On 19 October 2022 Todd Klutz gave a seminar presentation at the University of Gloucester called ‘Judas and Association (Dis)order in John 6-13’.

R&T Xmas Party TODAY

The Religions and Theology Christmas Party. Please join the R&T lecturers for festive canapes, drinks, and good company! Weds 7th Dec, 5–7pm, R&T Common Room, Samuel Alexander Building S1.11.

Bernard Jackson Prize 2022

Postgraduate Jewish Studies 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 2022 it was awarded to Kerry McCall (MA in History) for a thesis on 'Negotiating Antisemitism and Philosemitism in Victorian Britain: Case studies in wider literature and the press' (supervisor: Daniel Langton)

Limmund Festival 2022

Jewish Studies. The University of Manchester is well represented at Limmud Festival 2022, the volunteer-run Jewish learning event running from 23 – 28 December. Katja Stuerzenhofecker will participate in the panel discussion ‘The UK Jewish community in the age of Covid: What changed and what didn't?.' Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz will lead several sessions including a presentation of her recent research as CJS Postdoctoral Research Fellow. Also presenting are CJS and R&T alumni/ae Ariel Abel and Sarah McCulloch, and SALC colleague Noelle Dückmann Gallagher.

Sherman Community Lecture

Jewish Studies. Rabba Dr Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz (University of Manchester) will give the next Sherman Community Lecture entitled "The Jewel in the Crown of Anglo-Jewry? A History of Limmud". Thursday 6 December 2022 8pm (via Zoom). Further details.

Visiting Research Fellowship Opportunity

Methodist and Wesleyan traditions. Manchester Wesley Research Centre and The University of Manchester are pleased to welcome applications to their Joint Visiting Fellowship programme. The aim of the fellowship is to promote research in the Methodist and Wesleyan traditions by facilitating scholarly access to the internationally renowned Methodist Archives held at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library in Manchester and the MWRC and Nazarene Theological College (NTC) library. One Visiting Fellowship will be awarded per annum. Deadline for applications: 16 January 2023, 5pm (GMT). Further information.

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

Biblical Studies. 8th December, Megan Warner (Luther King Centre for Theology and Ministry), ‘Violence in Genesis 12 – 50’ at 2.00-3.30pm. The seminar will take place both in Mansfield Cooper 4.08 and on Zoom. To register to attend online, please email lev.eakins@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk. 

Exchange Fellowship Opportunity

Newberry Library – John Rylands Research Institute. The Newberry Library – John Rylands Institute Exchange Fellowship supports one former fellow from each institution to apply for a one-month fellowship at the partner institution. Current University of Manchester researchers, at any career stage, can apply to the Newberry for a one month residency at the Newberry Library in Chicago. Short-Term Fellowships are available to postdoctoral scholars, PhD candidates, and those who hold other terminal degrees. The deadline for short-term opportunities is December 15, 2022. Further information.

Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies Lecture

Women and Gender Forum. On Thursday 01 December, the ‘Women and Gender Forum’ run by the Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies Lecture Series invites you to the fourth lecture in the series titled Empowering Muslim Women in History, Literature, and the Arts (EMWHLA). The speaker is Professor Omayma Abu Bakr (Cairo University) and the talk is titled "Approaches to the Study of Sufi Women (sufiyyat) in Islamic History Texts". 5pm. Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/95663271964

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

Biblical Studies. 1st December, Christopher Greenough (Edge Hill University) ‘The Bible and Sexual Violence against Men’ at 2.00-3.30pm. The seminar will take place both in Mansfield Cooper 4.08 and on Zoom. To register to attend online, please email lev.eakins@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk. 

Religions & Theology Research Seminar

Religion & Theology.  On 8th December, Mia Spiro (Glasgow) will present "Could robots become religious? Spiritual intelligence in humans and machines". The seminar will take place via Zoom only. For Zoom access, please email: wren.radford@manchester.ac.uk or scott.midson@manchester.ac.uk.  

Careers Service

Graduated in 2022 or graduating in 2023? Check our 2023 Manchester Graduate Talent programme, which sources paid graduate-level jobs in the Greater Manchester area in a range of organisations, from the University, to start-ups, to multinational firms. Sign up to the MGT 2023 Facebook group now for more information. To get the most out of the Careers Service, either whilst you are a UoM student or for up to two years after you graduate, sign up to CareerConnect, our opportunities and events portal, and complete your profile. You can then receive job/event alerts, search for job opportunities, book places on events (including employer webinars and workshops), arrange careers, application and CV advice appointments with our team and access our fantastic pathways with resources on CVs, applications, interviews and postgraduate study as well as bespoke modules for international students and students with a disability.

PGR Student Election Win

UMPA. R&T Doctoral student Lev Eakins was elected President of the University of Manchester Postgraduate Association (UMPA), winning with 63% of the vote.

New Publication

Early Christianity. Sarah Parkhouse, "The Canon of the Pistis Sophia Books 1–3", in the Journal of Theological Studies. Further information.

New AI Centre

Posthumanism and AI. The University of Manchester has launched a new specialist multi-disciplinary centre to explore developments in smart robotics through the lens of artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous machinery. To mark the opening of centre the Manchester engineering campus held its first conference on Wednesday, Nov 23. Our very own Dr Scott Midson gave a joint talk with robotics expert Dr Andy Weightman exploring how interdisciplinary research can help with the special challenges of rehabilitation robotics, and, ultimately, what it means to be human “in the face of the promises and challenges of human enhancement through robotic and autonomous machines”. Further information.

New Publication

Dead Sea Scrolls. George Brooke has published an essay entitled "Gerhard von Rad and the Study of Wisdom in Texts from the Qumran Caves" as pp. 347-376 in Timothy J. Sandoval and Bernd U. Schipper (eds.), Gerhard von Rad and the Study of Wisdom Literature (Atlanta, GA: SBL, 2022). Further information.

Papers SBL/AAR, Denver

Biblical Studies and Religious Studies. Scholars of religion congregate in Denver this weekend. Those presenting among our colleagues and friends at Manchester are Sarah Parkhouse on the Passion of Perpetua and the late antique reception of the Gospel of John, and Gregory Adam Scott on Chinese Religions and Hagiology. Siobhán Jolley will present two papers from the fruits of her recently-completed PhD and ongoing research. Samuel Hildebrandt from Nazarene Theological College will present on the Book of Jeremiah. Manchester Wesley Research Centre will host two sessions.

Essay Prize

Peace Studies. Postgraduate student Sunkyo Park won an award for a short essay in the 3rd UK University Student ‘Peace in Korea' essay competition. Sunkyo won the peace prize for an essay titled “Sustainability of Peace on the Korean Peninsula for Sustainable Peace on the Korean Peninsula.” The competition was arranged by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council.

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

Biblical Studies. 16th November, Walter Houston (University of Manchester), '"I saw the prosperity of the wicked." Tracking down the rich in the Psalms.' Mansfield Cooper room 4.08 and via Zoom. 2:10pm. To register to attend online, please email lev.eakins@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk. 

New Publication

New Testament Studies. Peter Oakes has published ‘House Church or Association? Some Reflections on Models and Usefulness’, in Greco-Roman Associations, Deities, and Early Christianity, ed. Bruce W. Longenecker (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2022), 19-32. Further information.

Public Lecture

Biblical Studies. George Brooke gave a talk "Race, Ethnicity and Anti-Semitism: Is John Anti-Semitic?" for Chester Cathedral on 2nd November 2022. Watch it here on Youtube.

Careers Service

The Law Fair. Want a career in the legal sector? Don’t miss the Careers Law Fair which brings together law firms, professional bodies and legal education providers, to find your perfect internship, placement or grad job. Weds 23 November, 11am - 3pm, The Grand Hall, Whitworth Art Gallery. Book your place on CareerConnect.

Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies Lecture

Women and Gender Forum. On Thursday 17 November, the ‘Women and Gender Forum’ run by the Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies Lecture Series invites you to the third lecture in the series titled Empowering Muslim Women in History, Literature, and the Arts (EMWHLA). The speakers are Professors Feroza Jussawalla & Dr Doaa Omran from University of New Mexico USA and the talk is titled "Fictive and non-Fictive Life Writings of Muslim Women: Solidarity for Strength and Survival". 5pm. Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/97038599926

New Publication

New Testament Studies. CBS Fellow Loveday Alexander gave the Manson Memorial Lecture in 2011 on 'Paul the Apostle: Leadership and Authority in the Pauline Churches'. The lecture is now reaching a wider audience as 'Paul the Apostle,’ Chapter 5 of The Oxford Handbook of Pauline Studies (ed. Matthew Novenson and Barry Matlock, OUP, Oxford 2022) pp.94-108. Further information.

Coptic Gnostic Library Online now available

New Online Database. Through consultation and collaboration with colleagues in the department the Library has recently arranged access to the Coptic Gnostic Library Online, ensuring ready online availability to the only authoritative edition of many of the Coptic writings of the Gnostics from the first centuries AD. Effectively the primary resource for all research into ancient Gnosticism, the collection brings together all the texts of the Nag Hammadi codices, material considered of equivalent importance to the Dead Sea Scrolls in bringing to light a wealth of information and insights into early Judaism and the roots of Christianity. The purpose-built database incorporates enhanced search facilities, full scholarly notation, and an invaluable option to display text and translation in parallel. As ever pointers to further discipline-based resources can be found on the Library's Religions & Theology subject guide and in particular the databases section where the new purchase is highlighted.

Careers Service

Work Experience Bursary. Our Work Experience Bursary Scheme is now open for applications! The scheme offers financial support for full time undergraduates of all years to undertake career enhancing work experience. The scheme supports low or unpaid work experience opportunities. Further information.

New Appointment

AHRC Research Associate. Dr Finlay Malcolm has joined the Religions and Theology department as Research Associate on the AHRC-funded 'Religion, Theology and Climate Change' project. He completed his PhD in philosophy at the University of Manchester in 2017. He was then a Research Fellow in philosophy and religion at the University of Hertfordshire (2017-2022), and from February 2022, was a Research Associate at the Policy Institute at King’s College London. His research interests are primarily in philosophy of religion (especially trust, faith and belief), political philosophy (democracy and government), and the intersection of the two (the role of religion in political life, including climate change policy). He has written a book with Routledge and over a dozen academic journal articles. Whilst at KCL, Finlay worked across a number of social science-led projects, primarily on trust in climate change scientists, from which he produced a range of policy reports that have featured widely in national media.

International Paper

Philosophy. Dr Michael Hoelzl gave a paper at a symposium organised by the Universities of Osaka (Japan) and Groningen (Netherlands) on November 7th 2022. The presentation "Towards a Philosophy of Decision Making" was part of an international and interdisciplinary collaboration on "Metascience" as preparation for the EXPO 2025 in Osaka. Further information.

New Publication

Islamic Studies. Hon. Research Fellow Youssef M. Choueiri has published a new book Narratives of Arab Secularism: Politics, Feminism and Religion. Further information.

Careers Service News

CV WEEK (7th – 10th November). Various opportunities across the week to come and chat about your CV and get tailored advice, whatever stage you are at with it! More information on each drop-in can be found in the links below: Tuesday 8 November – Students’ Union, The Hive (1st Floor); Wednesday 9 November – The Atrium, University Place (1st Floor); and Thursday 10 November – Main Library, Event Room (Ground Floor).

New publication

Atheism and Jewish Studies. Daniel Langton, 'What Is the Relationship Between Judaism and Atheism?' in Atheism in Five Minutes, T. Taira (ed) Sheffield: Equinox, 2022. Further information.

New Publication

Jewish Studies. CJS Hon. Research Fellow Michael Hilton, "Are there Christian Cultural Elements in Jewish Practice?" in Elonei Mamre: The Encounter of Judaism and Orthodox Christianity, edited by Nicholas de Lange, Elena Narinskaya and Sybil Sheridan (Lexington Books, Fortress Academic 2023), 135–145.

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

Biblical Studies. 10th November, James Aitken (University of Cambridge), ‘Competency and Complexity in Septuagint Translations’ at 2.00-3.30pm. The seminar will take place both in Mansfield Cooper 4.08 and on Zoom. To register to attend online, please email lev.eakins@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk. 

Religions & Theology Research Seminar

Religion & Theology.  On 10th November Samuel O’Connor Perks will present "Radical conversions: Catholicism, welfare and labour in the 20th century". The seminar will take place 4pm–5:30pm at Mansfield Cooper 2.04 and via Zoom. For Zoom access, please email: wren.radford@manchester.ac.uk or scott.midson@manchester.ac.uk.  

Public Talk, Online

Early Christianity, Gender, Manuscripts. Sarah Parkhouse will be speaking about Gospel of Mary in second-century and fifth-century manuscripts for the second in a series of four creative talks that bring together artists, academics, and practitioners to discuss Mary Magdalene, female spirituality, and heresy. These creative talks are part of a wider project, "Heresy" by interdisciplinary performer Jo Blake; a multi-stranded arts project inspired by the Gospel of Mary Magdalene. 3rd Nov. Further information.

International Paper, Paris

Jewish Studies. On the 16th October, CJS honorary research fellow Ion Popa gave a presentation at La Memorial de la Shoah, Paris titled: "The Churches in Romania and the Holocaust. A Complex History." Further information.

Careers Service News

Learn with pathways. Our pathways are interactive, online themed learning modules which bring together resources, videos, articles and 1:1 appointments that you can work through at your own time and at your own pace. We have pathways on CVs, interviews, applications, cover letters, psychometric tests, assessment centres and postgraduate study. Our newest pathway ‘Get: Ready International Students’ has just launched, with information and tools to allow you to understand the UK job and recruitment market, find out about visa options and how to target the right employers. For more information on all of our pathways, see here. To get the most out of the Careers Service, either whilst you are a UoM student or during the two years after you graduate, sign up to CareerConnect, our opportunities and events portal, and complete your profile. You can then receive job/event alerts, search for job opportunities, book places on events (including employer webinars and workshops), and arrange careers, application and CV advice appointments with our team.

Social responsibility, Trinity High School

Engaging with local education. Peter Scott has been re-elected as Chair of Governors at Trinity Church of England High School, based in Hulme, Manchester, just beside the University. Further information.

New Publication

Theology. Honorary research fellow bishop David, professor of Anglican Studies in the World Religions and Education Research Unit at Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln has two entries in Thought for the Day: 50 years of fascinating thoughts and reflections from the world's religious thinkers.