Workshop, Durham

Biblical Studies. British Academy postdoctoral fellow Sarah Parkhouse will be giving a paper entitled  "Gnosticism(s): Blurry Boundaries, a Rhizomatic Model, and Heuristic Labels" and Todd Klutz will be responding to Nic Baker-Brian (Cardiff), “Christian Diversity in the Third-Century CE and Late Antique Manichaeism” (9 Sept), at the Diversity and Coherence in Early Christianity Workshop, St Chad's College Durham, 8-10 Sept 2021.

Teaching excellence, ITL

Inclusive pedagogy. Holly Morse contributed a workshop on Inclusive Communities and Environments as part a series of Inclusive Teaching workshops held by the Institute of Teaching and Learning, in collaboration with the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Directorate. 13 July 2021. Further information.

Conference paper, ESRC project

Christian Studies. Peter Scott gave a paper “The Theology of Poverty and the Poverty of Theology” at the Life on the Breadline project final conference in June 2021. The conference reported on the findings from the project, which has been funded by the ESRC for three years. Peter Scott has been a co-Investigator on the project. Further information.

BBC Radio 4

Japanese religions. Erica Baffelli (Japanese Studies) spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Programme about religion in Japan in relation to the Tokyo Olympics. 18 July 2021. Listen again.

New publication

Dead Sea Scrolls. George Brooke, 'The Dead Sea Scrolls' (chap 3) in The Biblical World, 2nd edn, ed. Katharine Dell (Routledge: 2021). Further information.

Radio, Voice of Islam

Religion and Evolution. Daniel Langton was interviewed in relation to evolution and creationism during a panel discussion on 'Anthropogeny' (origins of humankind) on the radio station Voice of Islam. 20 July 2021. Listen again.

Blog entry, 50 Jewish Objects

Jewish Studies. Juliet Goodden is the new artist commissioned by the Centre to respond with her art and creative practice to the 50 Jewish Objects project and to one or more items held at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library. With this first blogpost she leads us at the start of her journey of discovery of the collection. Further information.

Manchester's Response to Coronavirus

Jewish Studies. Among the projects listed by the Faculty of Humanities for their resource 'Contributing to the Fight Against Coronavirus', and the only one located in SALC, is Katja Stuerzenhofecker's work on 'How Jewish Orthodox women moved their religious practices online during COVID-19'. Further information.

Podcast, Muslim Jewish Forum

Jewish Studies. Alexander Samely took part in the Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester event 'Migration Stories: Manchester Muslims and Jews tell their own and their parents' migration stories' (23 May 2021). Alex grew up near Frankfurt am Main in Germany, and although he encountered very little antisemitism, he often wondered about the parts that older people in his town had played in WW2. Arriving in the UK 38 years ago, he feels he was able to develop a "more balanced relationship" with his Jewish identity and said "living here has done me the world of good." He has found people in the UK to be welcoming, tolerant and self-deprecating which made him feel relaxed. He is currently Professor of Jewish Thought at the University of Manchester. Watch again (YouTube).

Graduate celebration, 2021

It’s time to celebrate! We’re delighted to invite our R&T students to join those from throughout the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures in a virtual celebration of the successful completion of their studies at the University of Manchester. The School’s virtual celebration will be available to watch from 3.00pm on Tue 3 August. Share in the recognition and tributes for our SALC graduands; and enjoy messages from colleagues across the University who have joined you in supporting them throughout their time with us. Can’t make the date? The SALC celebration will be viewable beyond Tuesday 3 August, so you can visit at an alternative time that suits you. There will be an opportunity to catch up with colleagues and graduands after the celebration film, at a virtual live event on the same day: 3.45pm on Tue 3 August. Note: The weblinks have been shared in the invition reminder that was sent out to all graduands on Fri 23 July.

External examiner, Oxford

South Asian Studies. John Zavos is an external examiner for Oxford University's MSt in The Study of Religion, 2020-21, helping to maintain the quality of their assessment system.

New publication

Biblical Studies. Daniel Langton, 'Montefiore, Claude' in Walfish BD, Furey C, Römer T, editors, Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (Berlin: de Gruyter, Walter GmbH & Co. 2021), 927-929. Further information.

Research impact

Biblical Studies. Here we highlight a research project in our Dept that has had impact in wider society: 'Explaining Early Christian Diversity: Enhancing church practitioner training, public understanding, and the work of Christian communicators through a new paradigm'. Further information.